She said the vote by member states to approve Mercosur does not mark the end of the process, but rather the start of lobbying efforts ahead of a critical vote in the European Parliament.

Scientific committees advising the EU have repeatedly concluded that oestradiol-17β must be considered a 'complete carcinogen'.

Martin Heydon said that he and the government were in “detailed negotiations” with the European Commission around requirements to comply with the habitats directive.