Oral Answers to Questions

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)]

4. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement on the farming sector.

[John Cooper (Dumfries and Galloway) (Con)]

6. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK–EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement on the farming sector.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Stephen Morgan)]

The Government are in the final stages of negotiating a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier by removing trade barriers for British producers. An SPS agreement could increase the volume of UK exports of major primary agricultural commodities to the EU by around 16%. A regulatory impact assessment will be prepared as part of the normal process. Details are subject to ongoing negotiations, and we will not be providing a running commentary.

[Charlie Dewhirst]

England has become a world leader in gene editing and precision breeding. That has increased crop yields and eradicated diseases, and it helps to protect domestic, and potentially global, food security. But much of this technology is banned in the European Union, and dynamic alignment will mean that we cannot use it. What representations has the Minister made to the Cabinet Office and to Ministers in negotiations with the European Union to ensure that gene editing and our world-leading technologies are protected?

[Stephen Morgan]

I am committed to the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023. Details of the agreement are subject to negotiation, and the EU-UK “Common Understanding” sets out the agreement, which will include a short list of exceptions. I can confirm that the UK has been clear about the importance of being able to support the use of new and innovative technologies.