negative strategy on imports The chairman of the Provision Trade Federation has added his voice to calls for tighter import controls, but has warned they must not be used as a way of excluding legitimate imports. Speaking to a 1,000-strong audience at the PTF Annual Dinner, Andy Smith said that one quarter of PTF members imported meat and dairy products, adding: "We wholeheartedly support the farmers' view that illegal sub-standard imports must be stamped out. "Every time an incident is uncovered, it presents an opportunity for Fortress UK' supporters to put about a message all UK imports are bad. We know that is not true. "Yes, by all means support UK production, but not by knocking imports. This negative strategy is doomed to failure because consumers want choice and a range reflecting today's multicultural society." Smith said protectionism was bad for business because it bred tit for tat retaliation from governments and overseas consumers, and he pointed to the example of the French ban on British beef and and how some British consumers had rejected French products because of it. Smith also expressed scepticism about the likely effectiveness of the supermarket code of practice published by the DTI last November. He said: "We are dubious as to whether any supplier would resort to the ultimate sanction of the arbitration system, since to do so would be tantamount to burning one's boats." Smith said a meeting between OFT officials and PTF members had failed to dispel doubts that the code was an effective tool in practice. {{NEWS }}