THE Brexit Internal Market Bill will weaken the Scottish brand and open the door to the international sale of “British whisky and British haggis”, the House of Commons has heard.
Speaking at the bill’s Consideration in Committee this afternoon, SNP MP Dr Philippa Whitford said the Tories were unable to see what the bill looked like from the perspective of any of the devolved nations.
Talking about the “non-discrimination” outlined in clauses five and six of the Internal Market Bill, Whitford said it “would affect labelling regarding the source of produce”.
The MP for Central Ayrshire went on: “[The bill would] therefore remove the ability from consumers to reduce their food miles or support local producers if they choose.
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“Or [it could] be used to undermine or challenge protected geographical indicators, or the Scottish brand, as in Scotch whisky and Scotch beef.
“Despite their long tradition and international recognition and long tradition as Scottish products we already see the promotion of British whisky, and British haggis of all things.”
Whitford also took aim at clauses two and three of the bill, saying they create a “powerful deregulatory pressure”.
She went on: “If any UK nation has lower standards or regulations the other three must just shut up and accept such goods.
“As England is the largest nation, and economically the most powerful, it is assumed their standards will dominate.”
Speaking before Whitford, her SNP colleague Deidre Brock said she had two solutions to the problems presented by the Tories’ bill.
“The first is the obvious and by far the best,” Brock said: “Scotland as an independent nation state making her own decisions, which will happen soon.
“The second is less direct but may have some effect.
“Instead of reducing everything to the lowest common piece as proposed in this bill, raise it instead to the highest standard. Our amendment does this.
“Where goods are traded across the borders of these nations, let them be traded at the highest standards.”
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