Pork pie boss denies Boris Johnson’s claim about exports to Thailand and Iceland
2 min read
Boris Johnson was wrong to claim that Melton Mowbray pork pies are sold in Thailand and Iceland, according to a top industry boss.
The Prime Minister said it was unfair that the popular pastry was available in those countries but not in America.
Setting out his red lines on forthcoming trade talks with the United States, Mr Johnson said: “It’s not just beef or lamb that is currently banned from entering the US, in spite of their commitment to overturn that prohibition in 2014.
“Melton Mowbray pork pies, which are sold in Thailand and in Iceland, are currently unable to enter the US market because of . . . some sort of Food and Drug Administration restriction.”
But Matthew O’Callaghan, chair of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association, said the PM was mistaken.
Speaking on Radio Four’s Today programme, he said: “We don’t actually export to Thailand or to Iceland.”
Mr O’Callaghan also warned that a no-deal Brexit would see products like Melton Mowbray pies, which are worth £6bn a year to the UK economy, lose their protected status, allowing other parts of the world to make them.
He said: “On day one of Brexit, if there’s no deal, protection ends in Europe.”
Number 10 insisted Mr Johnson's comments were based on a briefing document produced by the Department for International Trade.
It said that Leicester-based pork pie producers Walker and Son send "small shipments" to Iceland, Thailand, Singapore and the Caribbean.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
