Campaigners in last-ditch push to protect farming standards post-Brexit

Farmers say UK food safety and animal welfare could be compromised as agriculture bill returns to parliament

Campaigners are staging a last-ditch attempt to enshrine food safety and animal welfare standards in UK law after Brexit, as the agriculture bill returns this week for debate and a series of votes in both houses of parliament.

The government is said to be adamantly opposed to legislating for a continuation of the high standards required under EU law, with farmers asked instead to rely on ministerial assurances that standards will be upheld after Brexit. A spokesperson dismissed concerns as unhelpful scaremongering".