Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the prevalence of non-stun slaughter for Halal meat production in each year since 2015; and whether she has received representations from relevant stakeholders on animal welfare standards.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
UK data regarding the number or proportion of animals slaughtered using the halal method without prior stunning is not collected.
The Food Standards Agency carries out a periodic slaughter sector survey in England and Wales, which started in 2011. Links to previous slaughter sector surveys are available here.
The Department has regular engagement with stakeholders on animal welfare standards.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has received any representations from (a) farmers, (b) other rural landowners and (c) other interested parties calling for a single responsible body to receive and investigate incidents of flytipping.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra not received any representations from farmers, other rural landowners and other interested parties calling for a single responsible body to receive and investigate incidents of fly-tipping.
Local councils are responsible for investigating most fly-tipping incidents, including those on private land. Fly-tipping incidents can be reported by visiting the relevant local authority's website. Individuals can get help on identifying the relevant local authority webpage at https://www.gov.uk/report-flytipping.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have reviewed the effectiveness of disqualification orders made under section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in cases involving sexual offences against animals.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to protecting animal welfare and ensuring those who abuse animals are held to account. Disqualification orders under section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 were reviewed as part of the Post‑legislative assessment of the Act, which concluded it was operating as intended and strengthening enforcement powers. There are no plans to review their effectiveness specifically in cases involving sexual offences against animals
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will include proposals to end the routine culling of day-old male chicks in the UK egg industry, including through the adoption of in-ovo sexing technology in the her Department’s forthcoming animal welfare strategy.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 64121.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to pack sizes, prescribing routes and product availability after 31 December 2025 on farm businesses and pet owners in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We continue to engage with businesses across the supply chain to support the transition at the end of this year to ensure that vets, farmers and pet owners continue to have the access to medicines that they need from 1 January.
We are aware of the impact that the potential of limited pack sizes may have on certain industry sectors in Northern Ireland and we are monitoring this closely. Our evidence does not currently suggest this is a widespread issue, although we appreciate individual companies may be affected. We understand that typically the most popular pack sizes will continue to be supplied.
We remain confident in our assessment that the vast majority of veterinary medicines will continue to be supplied and that the schemes we are introducing from1 January can address supply gaps if they emerge.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) the establishment of (i) online and (ii) centralised distributors and (b) other market concentration in the veterinary medicines supply chain in Northern Ireland after 31 December 2025 on consumer choice.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to ensuring the continued supply and availability of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland at the end of the grace period.
Through our extensive engagement, we are aware of multiple companies who are either already established in Northern Ireland or are planning to set up as online retailers in Northern Ireland. This is expected to ensure medicines remain available through these online channels.
From 1 January, the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme (VMIMS) and the Veterinary Medicines Health Situation Scheme will exist to plug any supply gaps that emerge. However, based on our current assessment, we do not expect a significant number of discontinuations to occur. We are also working to ensure that the VMIMS operates in a way that reflects how consumers obtain medicines at present.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an estimate of the number of veterinary medicine products expected to be (a) withdrawn and (b) altered in Northern Ireland after 31 December 2025.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Many businesses have already taken the steps to make the required adjustments so we are confident that the disruption to veterinary medicines supply will be limited.
After extensive stakeholder engagement, our current estimate remains that between 10-15% of authorised products that are currently supplied will be discontinued. However, most of these discontinued products are not currently sold in Northern Ireland or are generics with multiple alternatives available. We have identified fewer than 20 products where discontinuation would pose significant risks to animal health and welfare if these risks were not addressed; the two schemes that we are introducing will serve to address those risks.
Although these figures may change as pharmaceutical companies take steps to adjust before the end of the year, we are not expecting to see a significant change and continue to monitor the situation closely.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures are being taken to ensure that the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act supports research and field trials involving the genetic editing of sugar beet to improve resistance to Virus Yellows disease.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The secondary legislation needed to implement The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for plants in England commenced on 13 November 2025. This marks a major milestone, enabling research trials to take place and providing a route to market for precision bred products.
Through Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), we are funding innovative research projects and earlier this year, the Department announced a £12.5 million competition focused specifically on precision breeding. Previous projects funded under FIP includes a research project by Tropic, British Sugar and the John Innes Centre to develop sugar beets through precision breeding that are resistant against Virus Yellows.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help tackle rising food costs.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
UK consumer food prices depend on a range of factors, including agri-food import prices, domestic agricultural prices, domestic labour and manufacturing costs, and Sterling exchange rates.
On 19 November, the Secretary of State announced Defra is working alongside DBT and across Government to introduce a Food Inflation Gateway. This will assess new regulations for their impact on food businesses and food prices. It will help Government coordinate across departments and sequence regulations sensibly, providing clarity that unlocks investment to deliver productivity gains, keep costs down and put a downward pressure on food prices.
Alongside this, Defra’s food strategy is developing policies to ensure that individuals across the country have access to affordable, nutritious food. The strategy supports a whole-of-society approach to managing sudden, short-lived supply chain shocks and disruptions, as well as long-term chronic risks, so that we are ready for future shocks and reduce the risk of food price spikes.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that businesses are compliant with food labelling requirements in regard to halal and kosher products.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. All food sold on the UK market must comply with food labelling rules, which include the requirement for specific information to be presented in a specific way.
There are no regulations that require the labelling of religiously slaughtered meat, but where any information of this nature is provided it must be accurate and must not be misleading to the consumer. The Government respects religious freedoms and expects the industry, whether food producer or food outlet, to provide consumers with all the information they need to make informed choices.