Scotland seeks TTIP reassurance

16 Mar 2015 12:54 PM

Food Secretary takes case for enhanced protection to Europe.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment Richard Lochhead will today (Monday) seek European Council reassurance that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will not reduce the level of food, health, environmental or labour standards in Scotland.

Mr Lochhead will also ask Defra to ensure that all of Scotland’s products which have Protected Geographical Indicator (PGI) status are put forward as part of the EU’s priorities for TTIP.

He said:

“I want to ensure that TTIP will not adversely affect our food, health, environmental or labour standards in Scotland. The European Commission has stated that TTIP will not result in a lowering of standards – however, until the Scottish Government sees the final text of an agreement then we cannot be certain, and for that reason I am seeking assurance today that the partnership will be beneficial, rather than detrimental, to Scotland.

“It is also my intention to see that Defra pushes for all Scotland’s PGI status products to be included in the TTIP.

“The UK Government’s priorities for TTIP must take full account of Scottish interests and priorities. My concern around PGIs is that if some products are given protected status but others are not, the products which do get it may gain an unfair advantage through TTIP. That is why I have asked Defra to include all Scottish PGIs on the EU’s negotiating mandate.”