The UK will continue to ban the import of chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-injected beef after Brexit, the environment secretary has said, raising doubts over the prospect of a trade deal with the US.
Theresa Villiers said the government would adopt an EU ban on the two products once Britain leaves the EU.
However, the comments are likely to cause problems during trade talks with the US, which is expected to demand access to UK markets for US food producers.
Both chlorinated chicken and hormone-injected beef are allowed in the US.
Ms Villiers’ latest comments are the strongest yet from a government minister in ruling out allowing the products to enter the UK after Brexit.
She told the BBC’s Countryfile programme: “There are legal barriers to the imports and those are going to stay in place.
“We will not be importing chlorinated-chicken. We will not be importing hormone-treated beef. Both of those are illegal under EU law, which we are importing into our domestic system.”
Insisting that ministers would “hold the line” on food standards, she added: “We will defend our national interests and our values, including our high standards of animal welfare.”
The government has toughened its position following warnings from consumer groups, British farmers and opposition politicians.
Ministers’ previous refusal to rule out banning chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-injected beef had fuelled fears about food standards being lowered after Brexit.
Responding to the latest news, Luke Pollard, the shadow environment secretary, said: “We can’t trust any trade deal promises from the Tories when the government has held secret talks in which the US offered to help convince the British public about chlorinated chicken.”
