CEREDIGION MP Ben Lake has urged UK Government to back Welsh farmers after it rejected the latest attempt to require imported food to meet domestic legal standards from January 1.

The Agriculture Bill - designed to prepare the farming industry for when the UK no longer has to follow EU laws and rules next year - returned to the House of Commons on Monday following amendments by the House of Lords.

During the debate on the Lords amendments, Mr Lake said: “This Government have long talked up the benefits of taking back control and of how, post-EU, we will be able to set the terms of our trade with the world.

“Those terms should be quite simple: UK market access for imports should be dependent on meeting equivalent UK food production standards. Without this safeguard, this Bill threatens the future prosperity of Welsh farming.”

The UK Government says EU rules banning imports of chlorine-washed chicken and other products will be automatically written into UK law once the post-Brexit transition period ends on December 31.

But peers made a number of changes, including one which would give MPs a veto over sections in trade deals relating to food imports, which would be required to comply with "relevant domestic standards".

They argued these changes were necessary to make it impossible for the US or other countries to export chlorinated chicken or beef injected with hormones.

However, MPs voted by 332 votes to 279 to back government plans to reject the amendment.

In response, Mr Lake said: “Plaid Cymru supported amendments that would have protected food standards in future trade deals and strengthened parliamentary scrutiny of trade negotiations.

“Yet again, the UK Government has let down Welsh farmers when given the chance to protect their livelihoods. Despite all their promises and manifesto commitments, the Government defeated the amendments, exposing our farmers to unfair competition and lower production standards in future trade deals.

“Plaid Cymru will continue to put forward a positive vision for our food producers based on a greater say for our devolved governments and the protection of food standards. This is not because we not only believe them necessary now, but because they are fundamental to our collective tomorrow.”