There has been coverage in Telegraph and Guardian this week highlighting comments made by Environment Secretary Michael Gove and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox on the role of chlorinated chicken in any future trade deals.

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Both the Environment and Trade Secretaries made it clear that chicken washed in chlorine does not pose a health risk. However as the Environment Secretary explained,chlorine washing can be an indicator of lower animal welfare standards. The Government has said that they will uphold the UK’s high animal welfare standards after Brexit - as Teresa May reaffirmed at this week's Prime Minister's Questions.

When asked by Oliver Dowden MP if leaving the EU meant seeing a "relaxation in our high standards of animal welfare", the PM replied saying,"We are proud to have some of the highest animal standards in the world .....leaving the EU is not going to change that.....we remain committed to those standards"

Appearing in front of the Environmental Audit Committee yesterday, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

"In Cabinet we have agreed collectively that there will be no dilution of our animal welfare standards in pursuit of trade deals. The Trade Secretary is absolutely right that there is no danger to human health and the Government’s position on animal welfare standards is clear and consistent".

A Government Spokesperson reiterated the Government's stance:

"We are committed to a mutually beneficial economic arrangement with the US but we will not dilute our high animal welfare or environmental standards in pursuit of any trade deal".