Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraph 43(m) of the publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on developing legislative proposals to confirm the application of the Windsor Framework labelling requirements across the UK.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
The Government confirmed at the end of September that we would no longer proceed with the introduction of mandatory GB-wide ‘not for EU’ labelling from the beginning of October 2024, as originally proposed. We will put in place the legislative powers necessary to apply labelling requirements across Great Britain in a targeted way, should that be needed to safeguard the supply of supermarket supplies into Northern Ireland. We will set out further details in due course and will not hesitate to intervene if necessary to support Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 3050 on Poultry: Import Controls, what certification is required to evidence that products are from unvaccinated ducks.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Currently, imports of vaccinated ducks cannot be certified as the animal health requirements in the Import Health Certificates cannot be met. Standard certificates for imports of products of animal origin and live animals, available on GOV.UK, are used.
Traders are regularly updated through industry groups, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency addresses technical operational queries via exports@apha.gov.uk .
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 August 2024 to Question 1969 on Poultry: Import Controls, what steps British businesses wishing to import French duck meat should take to certify that it comes from unvaccinated flocks.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
France cannot currently export duck meat or products to Great Britain if they come from ducks vaccinated against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Importers must ensure their suppliers can certify that the products are from unvaccinated ducks. The French competent authority has been clear in advising their industry on the rules surrounding HPAI vaccination. Close collaboration with suppliers is crucial to ensure that certificates are accurately completed according to the flock's vaccination status. This is key to meeting UK standards and avoiding incorrectly certified imports
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to review the import ban on French ducks.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
It is important to protect animal health and welfare and avoid the economic impacts posed by disease incursion. Therefore, UK businesses importing duck products or meat must currently ensure they are sourced from unvaccinated animals. The Department understands the concerns of GB importers and remains in close dialogue with industry and the French authorities to seek further information relating to France’s Avian Influenza Vaccination Plan.