§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the EU in respect of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations in order to prevent loss of competitiveness in the UK egg industry from(a) increased domestic regulatory costs and (b) reducing barriers to trade. [70335]
§ Mr. MorleyReducing barriers to trade is fundamental to Government policy. However, I am concerned that there should be no competitive disadvantage as a result of higher EU regulatory costs than those faced by third country competitors. We have played an active part in formulating EU policy in this area and these concerns are 921W fully reflected in the context of specific proposals on animal welfare that the European Commission has submitted in the Doha Development Agenda.