Take Back Control.
UK (including NI) manufacturers will be able to continue with present levels of arsenic* in babyfood, whilst the EU legislates for lower levels.
Will they do this? Is this an advantage?
Clearly not to UK Babies and consumers. So, is it better for manufacturers?
If they want to sell their products in the EU (and dont we want to export goods for a better balance of trade?) then they need to follow EU rules. And clearly they dont want two production lines instead of one, so they will follow the stricter, EU rules.
If they choose to continue with the present levels of arsenic, because they don`t want to export, will the parents who buy babyfood choose that product over EU made food? Will they choose to possibly save a few bob?
So it goes on. We continue to follow the EU rules, because it is good business sense to do so.
We approved and supported the vast majority of EU rules, and could tweek them to suit ourselves when they were being passed.
We no longer have input into what those rules are. We used to have a say as member, but we gave that up.
*Arsenic is everywhere at low levels.
It does no good to anyone, especially the young. It is impossible to get to zero levels, but driving down the background level is a good thing.
Newer technology can enable this, and so should be adopted. It may cost money but if all manufacturers adopt higher standards, then there is no economic advantage to keeping old dirty tech.We need legislation so all are on a level playing field.