tractor in field

The NFU is urging more people to sign its petition on food standards, which has alreadybeen backed by more than 850,000 people and won support from the likes of Jamie Oliver.

NFU president Minette Batters, buoyed by support from the Mail on Sunday, said the success of the petition would “send a very strong signal to the government about the strength of public feeling about food safety and security.” The petition calls for the government to put in place legislation that prevents the importation of food to the UK which is produced in ways that would be illegal here.

The petition begins 'I want the food I eat to be produced to world-leading standards' and can be viewed in fullhere.

NFU South East regional board chairman David Exwood said: “It is great to see so much support. This means so much to us as farmers.We’d strongly encourage people to sign our petition now – let’s make it more than a million signatures.

'Public support for farming has grown during the pandemic, along with recognition of the importance of a safe and secure supply of food. This should not be jeopardised in any future international trade deals, so back British farming and sign our petition.”

As well as calling for equivalency of food and environmental standards, the petition urges the government to 'seize the opportunities of 'Global Britain' to promote sustainable models of production and consumption across the world.'