MP Neil Parish, has called on people to submit their views on the announcement that The All Party Parliamentary Group for Eggs, Pigs and Poultry has announced that it intends to hold an Inquiry into planning, antibiotics and welfare.

Neil Parish, the MP for Tiverton and Honiton, said: “Since the establishment of the APPG for Eggs, Pigs & Poultry, we have focused on raising the profile of these sectors.

“As part of this process, we are calling for evidence to look broadly at what effect the current rules on planning, antibiotics and welfare have.

“All three sectors are a great national asset and it is important their issues are raised.

“As part of this process, the All Party Group intends to enquire into these issues facing our egg, poultry meat and pork industries.

“As a preliminary step, we are calling for interested parties to let us have their views.

“This should help to keep the focus on the need to ensure the UK continues to benefit from strong farming sectors delivering affordable, quality, high welfare British produce.”

“All three industries face significant challenges including high feed prices as well as significant costs imposed by farm animal welfare, environmental and food safety regulations agreed at the EU level.

“While we support these, we are particularly keen to ensure the UK is not in any way disadvantaged by an unlevel playing field with our EU partners or is burdening itself with ‘gold-plated’ legislation.”