Asked by: Alyn Smith (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of introducing Not for EU labelling on trends in consumer behaviour in the purchase of agricultural products from UK-based businesses.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Labelling is a proportionate and necessary means of ensuring goods moving under the unique arrangements provided by the Windsor Framework are not being moved inappropriately into the EU.
We are not aware of any change in consumer behaviour based on the labelling requirements in place so far, which already sees those labels on products on shelves across the UK in practice. That reflects that the ‘not-for-EU’ label does not represent a change in standards of production and quality and is simply a means of ensuring the smooth movement of goods within the UK.
Asked by: Alyn Smith (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of introducing Not for EU labelling on agricultural businesses.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Since the Windsor Framework was agreed, we have engaged intensively with businesses across the supply chain, including with agricultural businesses to understand their perspectives. We have published guidance on the labelling requirements to support businesses to understand any changes that may be required.
We have undertaken a public consultation on the extension of the labelling requirement across Great Britain. This provided the opportunity for stakeholders, including agricultural businesses, to put forward their views on the approach. We will be publishing a response to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Alyn Smith (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve food labelling so that (a) consumers are effectively informed on which products have been produced (i) locally and (ii) in the UK and (b) local products are not undercut by external competition which is not produced to the same standard.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Country of origin information is required for fresh and frozen meat derived from beef cattle, sheep, goat, pigs and poultry, as well as uncut fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, wine and some fish products. It is also required for all prepacked food where its omission would be misleading to consumers. In any case, where an indication of origin or provenance is given, either in words or pictures, this must be accurate. Buying food locally and supporting their local food economy is important to many consumers and where any label indicates that a food is produced locally, this must not be misleading to a consumer.
As recently announced by the Secretary of State, we will soon be launching a consultation on clearer food labelling. This will explore how we can better highlight imports that do not meet UK welfare standards. The consultation will also seek evidence and views on how origin information could be improved for consumers.
Asked by: Alyn Smith (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether licences from the Rural Payments Agency will be required for ethyl alcohol imported from the EU after the transition period.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
Yes, under retained EU law, amended by the Import and Export Licences (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, any import of ethyl alcohol into the UK after the end of the transition period will need to be accompanied by an import licence issued by the Rural Payments Agency.