Brexit: Liam Fox claims UK could accept chlorinated chicken in US trade deal without lowering food standards

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “So, it’s not been about food standards per se, so that’s a slightly different debate and much more difficult to quantify because the legal definitions about it at the WTO are much less.” The comments came as Mr Fox said MPs voting down the withdrawal agreement bill would be setting the UK on a path to either “revocation of Article 50 or leaving without a deal”. “One of the reasons why foodborne disease rates are so much higher in the US is that these measures are often used as a desperate attempt to make up for widespread safety problems in food production – leaving bacteria like salmonella to run rampant.” The comments also directly contradicted Michael Gove, the environment secretary, who – asked nearly two years ago if chlorine-washed chicken would be allowed in – replied simply: “No.” Mr Gove told a House of Lords inquiry said: “This is something on which all members of the government are agreed. In a statement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stressed its commitment to food standards – but stopped short of repeating Mr Gove’s “no” to chlorine-washed chicken. “It would be self-defeating to see us reduce our standards, there’s no advantage from a trading perspective,” Mr Fox said – before arguing chlorine-washed chicken was a separate, animal welfare issue.