In legislation believed to be included in this year’s King’s Speech scheduled for 13 May, the government is rumoured to be planning to bring the UK closer to the remit of EU lawmakers on trade issues without parliament holding a vote on each product sector.

Measures are expected to be included in a Bill designed to align UK rules with EU food and drink standards, first set out in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement with the European Council last May.