MINISTERS have claimed they are champions of Scottish farmed salmon despite failing to insist on protecting the food in a free trade deal between the European Union and Canada.
The deal which was signed off by the European Parliament in February after years of painstaking negotiations which will make it easier for the bloc and Canada to trade with each other by removing existing tariffs.
But concerns have been raised that Scottish farmed salmon, which holds a Protected Geographical Indication mark from the EU as a distinct product, was not included in the deal. As a result, there are fears Canadian food producers could label their own salmon as Scottish in order to sell it in the UK.
Chris Law, the SNP MP for Dundee West, said omitting protection for Scottish farmed salmon from the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) could put the industry at a “commercial disadvantage”.
Raising the issue in the Commons, he said: “Scottish farmed salmon has experienced a significant increase in exports to Canada. However, why did this Government not put any Scottish geographical indicators forward in the Ceta agreement despite indicating it would be putting the Scottish food industry at a commercial disadvantage?”
Farming minister George Eustice replied: “I am regularly promoting Scottish salmon, one of our major exports alongside Scottish whisky, and we champion it at every opportunity.”
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