Today, The Conservative Party has announced comprehensive plans to close the ‘flag loophole’ on food and back British Farmers
The Conservative Party has consistently championed British farming and rural businesses. That is why the next Conservative Government will reform food labelling laws. This measure is increasingly urgent following the Government’s devastating Family Farm and Family Business Tax, as well as the ongoing lack of clarity surrounding the vital Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme, which has left many agricultural businesses and farms facing uncertainty and disadvantage.
Under current rules, products can display the Union Jack Flag or be marketed as British even when key ingredients are sourced overseas, provided disclaimers are included elsewhere on the packaging. This is incredibly misleading for consumers and undermines the high standards of genuine British producers.
The next Conservative Government would, therefore, ensure that the Union Jack Flag and “Made in the UK” claims may only be used where food is genuinely produced in the United Kingdom. Single-ingredient products such as meat, eggs, dairy and fresh produce would need to be entirely born, raised, grown, slaughtered and processed in the UK. For multi-ingredient products we will consult on a requirement for 90 per cent to be UK-sourced ingredients before national flags or “Made in” claims could be displayed.
These reforms are supported by strong public and industry backing, with clear evidence that consumers want simpler and more honest origin labelling. Farmers have long argued that current rules disadvantage domestic producers and dilute the value of genuinely British goods.
A transition period of at least 24 months would allow businesses to adapt packaging within existing redesign cycles, limiting costs and avoiding unnecessary waste.
The Conservatives will call upon and support all devolved Governments to implement identical labelling standards to ensure that all four countries of the United Kingdom are supported and uphold the same standards.
Only the Conservatives, under new leadership, have a plan and the commitment to back British farming, strengthen consumer trust and ensuring that when a product carries the Union Jack Flag, it truly represents British produce.
Victoria Atkins MP, Shadow Environment Secretary, said:
“We should all eat British food whenever we can. When customers choose a product either flying the Union Jack flag or claiming, ‘Made in Britain’, it should mean exactly that.
“Currently, food grown overseas yet merely assembled or packaged here can fly the flag or be described as ‘British’. The Conservatives will close the flag loophole and make food origin labelling clearer so that consumers can be sure that they’re buying British food which is actually grown and produced in our country.
“British farmers and food producers are crucial to our nation’s food security, feeding the nation with high-standard produce. Making origin labelling clearer and simpler will encourage us all to eat more British-made food. Let’s eat for Britain!”
You can read Victoria's article about this on the Farmers Guardian website here.
