Stand up for U.S. poultry in trade negotiations with UK, says Womack

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), co-chair of the Congressional Chicken Caucus, this week led a bipartisan contingent of his colleagues in urging the prioritization of poultry producer market access during upcoming trade negotiations between the United States and the United Kingdom.

“Breaking down trade barriers in vital markets will unleash opportunity and allow more people from across the globe to access wholesome food,” Rep. Womack said. “The administration has prioritized standing up for American agriculture, and it’s paramount that we embrace this economic opportunity with one of our closest allies.”

While U.S. poultry is among the best and safest in the world, the European Union (EU) for decades has banned U.S.-exported poultry due to standard antimicrobial washes used in American poultry production, according to a March 10 letter from Rep. Womack and 46 of his colleagues sent to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

“However, with its departure from the EU on January 31, 2020, we are in a position to negotiate an agreement with the U.K. that resolves this unscientific ban once and for all,”  wrote Rep. Womack and his colleagues. “With the imminent launch of trade talks between the U.K. and the U.S., we the undersigned stress the importance of including U.S. poultry products in the agricultural chapter of any new trade agreement with the U.K.”

The lawmakers pointed out that all rinses, including chlorine, must be approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which limits their use to specific amounts, and currently only an estimated 10 percent of American processing plants use chlorine throughout production.

“Scientific research, including that of the European Food Safety Authority, confirms using chlorine-washed poultry does not pose any human health concerns, nor is it present in the final product,” according to their letter. “The U.S. food safety system is second to none, and it is built on extensive scientific research to assure safety of the product and the process.”

At the same time, Rep. Womack and his colleagues wrote that the U.S. sends poultry products to more than 120 countries around the world.

“Adding a new market like the U.K. will continue the momentum gained by opening markets like China and Japan to our poultry industry,” they wrote. “Lifting this ban will set the stage for future agreements, such as with the EU, and reinforce the administration’s stance that U.S. farmers and ranchers are an integral part of the American economy that should not be left behind.”

The letter has been endorsed by the National Chicken Council and the National Turkey Federation.