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Written question asked by Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 16 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 March 2026 (named day). It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Monday, 23 March 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Agricultural Products: Origin Marking

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that imported food products do not use British branding.

Answer

All food sold on the UK market, including that which is imported, must comply with UK food labelling rules. The fundamental principle of the UK’s food labelling rules is that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable the safe use of food.

Under existing rules, food that is not classed as UK origin cannot be sold or labelled as being British. Processed foods and composite foods manufactured in the UK are British products, but if these contain a primary ingredient that is not British then a British claim can only be made on the label if the label also highlights that the primary ingredient is not British.

Food simply re-packaged in the UK, without any further processing, does not confer UK origin on it.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
121016
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Imports Origin marking Agricultural products
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk