Government to keep ban on chlorinated chicken after Brexit, raising fresh doubts over UK-US trade deal

Environment secretary insists ministers will not allow products to enter UK, in move likely to anger Trump administration

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.

1/15Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Pork

There will be tariffs on pork in order to protect British farmers

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Cheese

There will be tariffs in place on some cheeses including €22.10/100kg of cheddar, €19.10/100kg of processed cheese and €18.60/100kg on some blue cheeses

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Milk

There will be no tariffs in place on milk

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Car Parts

There will be no tariffs on car parts imported from Europe

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Cars

However finished cars will face tariffs of 10.6%

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Alcoholic drinks

There will be no tariffs on alcoholic drinks - except on some rums due to ingredients used in their distilling process

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Beef

There will be tariffs on beef in order to protect British farmers

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Fish

There will be no tariffs on many types of fish including cod, haddock, salmon and sea bass

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Fruit and vegetables

There will be no tariffs on almost all fruit and vegetables

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Chocolate

There will be no tariffs on chocolate or other cocoa products

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Poultry

There will be tariffs on poultry in order to protect British farmers

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Ceramics

There will be some tariffs in place on ceramis

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Steel

There will be no tariffs on steel

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Coal

There will be no tariffs on coal

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Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Lamb/Mutton

There will be tariffs on the meat of sheep in order to protect British farmers

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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.”