Local MP Huw Merriman called on the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to improve country of origin food labelling so that it is more transparent. 

The Minister confirmed that work was ongoing within her Department to introduce a technological solution that would give consumers greater information about the origin of the food products they are purchasing. 

Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle: 

We know that our consumers want to buy British and buy Northern Irish to support higher animal welfare standards and our farming community, but sometimes they find the food labelling confusing and misleading as to country of origin. So what action has the Government taken to try and clarify that confusion, and what steps will she take, particularly with regards to technology, to make it even better in the future?

Victoria Prentis MP, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: 

Country of origin labelling must not mislead. If the origin of the main ingredient is different, for example, if you have a British pie with French meat inside, then it must say so on the label.

I've talked to the Honourable Gentleman before about possible technological solutions to labelling issues, for example, using QR codes, which give consumers much more information about a product. We will continue to work on these.