Labour is on the brink of signing up to new EU food regulations as part of the controversial reset talks with Brussels, a move that critics say could push up prices in every British supermarket.
The agreement would mean adopting the bloc's Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, which govern how food is produced. Goods covered would include live animals, seafood, seeds, animal feed and pesticides.
Costs passed to shoppers
Writing for the Sunday Express, Conservative shadow minister Victoria Atkins wrote that "the price of those new laws, bans and checks will fall on producers". She argued that such costs would "inevitably be passed onto shoppers, making all our food shops more expensive."
Industry estimates underline the impact. CropLife UK calculated that an SPS agreement could land British farmers with an £800 million bill in the first year alone, while the Fresh Produce Consortium warned that additional border checks could incur £300 million per year for producers.
Pressure on British farmers
These changes come at a time of growing pressure on food producers, who have already faced changes to national insurance, business rates and the introduction of a new packaging tax.
Ms Atkins called on the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to do what he can to bring down the cost of living, but warned it would "take courage for him to disagree with Keir Starmer and stand up for UK food producers."
The Express has long campaigned to leave the European Union, and earlier this year launched its "Give Us A Proper Brexit" campaign. That campaign has pushed for a reduction in EU red tape, a protected fishing area around the UK, and the country's withdrawal from the European Court of Human Rights.
Government response
A Government spokesperson said: "Far from increasing prices, an agri-food and drink deal with Britain's largest trading partner will slash the costly red tape that only helps drive up supermarket bills and add up to £5.1 billion a year to our economy. By removing border checks, we are backing British farmers, producers and businesses and making it easier to export our world-class products to European markets."
