Michael Gove: UK won’t accept US chlorinated chickens

August 16, 2017, United Kingdom – The UK should not accept imports of chlorinated chickens as part of any future trade deal with the U.S., Michael Gove has said.

The environment secretary told the BBC that the UK would not “compromise” on or “dilute” its animal welfare standards in the interests of trade.

The EU currently bans chlorine-washed chickens on welfare grounds.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has questioned this but downplayed the potential for UK-US disagreement.

It will be up to the UK to decide whether to retain the ban once it leaves the EU in March 2019.

Labour said the government’s “casual and inconsistent” approach risked undermining British farmers.

On a visit to Washington, Fox said chlorinated chicken was just one detail in one sector that would only be addressed at the end of discussions about a free trade deal – which are likely to be years away.

He has suggested there are no food safety issues regarding chlorine-washed chickens, a view shared by many UK experts. READ MORE