Labour MPs seek better labelling and stricter import standards

More honest food labelling and better protection against substandard imports are the top priorities of a new campaign launched on Monday (30 March) by a group of rural and semi-rural Labour MPs.

Titled “Spring Push for Farming Profitability”, the new campaign from the Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG) of over 40 backbenchers recognises that farmers have faced a “perfect storm” in recent years.

See also: UK food labelling reform demanded by NFU Scotland

They cite poor post-Brexit support policy roll-out, steep rises in input and labour costs, and tougher environmental regulations as particular challenges.

There is, therefore, an urgent need for government to deliver polices that will help restore farm profitability, says the group.

Honest labelling

The first demand is for better food labelling, that could help lift demand for British food.

The campaign seeks to get away from the situation where food is often claimed to be “Made in Britain” and covered in Union Flags, when the majority of ingredients are imported.

It wants a system which makes clear where the food is grown, produced, or made, and what percentage of the ingredients are British.

To help consumers make more informed animal welfare choices, it is also seeking a colour-coded labelling system to indicate how animals were reared and treated.

“Defra itself has said there is around £50-60m worth of profit for British farmers tied up in pent up consumer demand for higher welfare British produce,” said LRRG campaign lead Noah Law, MP for St Austell and Newquay.

“If we are able to introduce honest and clear labelling on welfare and country of origin, then we should be able to unlock that high value for farmers,” he told the Farmers Weekly Podcast.

Level playing field

The second pillar of the campaign relates to food imports.

The LRRG points to previous trade deals with Australia and New Zealand that allow food in from abroad produced using inputs and methods that are illegal in the UK.

It wants legislation passed so that UK food standards are applied to imported goods.

“Our research estimates there is about £500m of profit associated with low welfare imports that are coming in and undercutting British farmers,” said Mr Law.

“They are not playing by the same rules and there is a huge lost opportunity for British farmers.”

Mr Law dismissed fears such policies would push up the price of food for consumers, as raw materials only contribute a small proportion to the overall cost of food, where as a “few pence here and there” would make a significant difference to farmers’ margins.

Listening mode

Mr Law said he was optimistic the government was in listening mode, pointing to the influence the LRRG had had in improving the changes to agricultural property relief for inheritance tax, and on dealing with the current price spike for heating oil.

The campaign also calls for fairer treatment of farmers by supermarkets, including beefing up the Groceries Code Adjudicator and bringing it under the control of Defra, “so it can tackle bad supermarket practices and mediate fairer deals for farmers”.