SOMERSET farmers could face competition from their American counterparts who are not forced to adhere to such high animal welfare standards, it is claimed.

Taunton Deane Green Party members fear US products such as chemically-washed poultry, livestock treated with growth hormones and genetically-modified crops will put shoppers at risk and unfairly penalise local farmers.

Green members were in Taunton town centre on Saturday leafleting and collecting signatures on a petition against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. The agreement aims to harmonise rules between the UK and the US on, among other things, food standards.

Clive Green, who is standing for the Greens in Taunton Deane at next year’s General Election, believes the initiative, aimed at boosting international trade, would severely undermine UK farmers, who are governed by higher European standards on animal welfare and a GM crops ban.

Mr Martin said he was pleased by the turnout at Saturday’s event and added: “We had a really positive response from the many people who stopped to chat and sign the petition. The Green Party stands for the interests of ordinary people against the big corporations.”

Marcus Beyrer, of the lobby group Business Europe, say the TTIP would benefit shoppers.

He said: “It would make production cheaper and it would make the cost for the consumer cheaper.”