After listening to the concerns of farmers and meeting with representatives from the British Poultry Council, Alec has put pressure on Ministers to improve their support for local farmers across Yorkshire.
Alec has pressed Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on their efforts to increase meat and poultry exports, protect farmers from the impact of diseases and avian flu, ease border checks on exports, and to address the risks associated with imported food.
Following these discussions, the Prime Minister has announced a food and drink export package aimed at boosting the UK's export capability, including the expansion of negotiations on the removal of trade barriers in growing global markets, building on the UK's recent successes securing access to the US, Australian and New Zealand markets for producers across Yorkshire. Furthermore, the Government is now making additional funds available to the Animal Health and Plant Agency to tackle avian flu, and has put together an industry task force to explore the potential use of vaccination as a preventative measure.
Commenting, Alec said, "I recognise the financial pressure facing farmers across Yorkshire in the wake of an avian flu epidemic, and a regulatory system that makes it too easy for foreign producers to undercut British farmers. I'm pleased that, since raising the concerns of my residents with DEFRA, the Government has taken substantive action to address these issues, and I will continue to work within Parliament to ensure that farmers' voices are heard".
