Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of a negotiated veterinary agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary rules with the EU on reducing barriers for UK food exporters.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) puts in place a framework (including an SPS Specialised Committee) that allows the UK and the EU to take informed decisions to reduce their respective SPS controls, with a commitment to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade. It is in both Parties' interests to use this framework to reduce the rate of SPS checks required.
We are open to discussions with the EU on additional steps we can take to further reduce trade friction, but these cannot be on the basis of future alignment with EU rules as this would compromise UK sovereignty over our own laws.
Defra's reach and engagement with the agri-food sector is extensive and well established. We have maintained and built on conversations with stakeholders over the last four years, to ensure a strong two-way dialogue at both a ministerial and official level. We engage directly with the largest exporting businesses (the top ten of whom alone account for around 25% of exports). We also reach businesses through trade associations. The Secretary of State meets fortnightly with the F4 group, representing the four main business representative organisations across the agri-food chain: the Food and Drink Federation, National Farmers' Union, UK Hospitality and the British Retail Consortium.
In order to hold productive discussions on specific issues, Defra holds regular forums with the different food and drink sectors. For example, we engage the farming sector through groups such as the Arable and Livestock Chain Advisory Groups, manufacturers through the Food and Drink Manufacturers Roundtable and meat processors through the M4 forum. Defra also holds a Retailer Forum and has regular calls with Wholesale stakeholders.
Regular meetings such as the F4 and F4 sub-groups have allowed for productive two-way engagement with stakeholders across the supply chain. They are an important source of intelligence and industry feedback is that this approach of bringing stakeholders and policy experts together is making good progress towards resolving issues.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with farming unions on the merits of negotiating a veterinary agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary rules with the EU.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) puts in place a framework (including an SPS Specialised Committee) that allows the UK and the EU to take informed decisions to reduce their respective SPS controls, with a commitment to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade. It is in both Parties' interests to use this framework to reduce the rate of SPS checks required.
We are open to discussions with the EU on additional steps we can take to further reduce trade friction, but these cannot be on the basis of future alignment with EU rules as this would compromise UK sovereignty over our own laws.
Defra's reach and engagement with the agri-food sector is extensive and well established. We have maintained and built on conversations with stakeholders over the last four years, to ensure a strong two-way dialogue at both a ministerial and official level. We engage directly with the largest exporting businesses (the top ten of whom alone account for around 25% of exports). We also reach businesses through trade associations. The Secretary of State meets fortnightly with the F4 group, representing the four main business representative organisations across the agri-food chain: the Food and Drink Federation, National Farmers' Union, UK Hospitality and the British Retail Consortium.
In order to hold productive discussions on specific issues, Defra holds regular forums with the different food and drink sectors. For example, we engage the farming sector through groups such as the Arable and Livestock Chain Advisory Groups, manufacturers through the Food and Drink Manufacturers Roundtable and meat processors through the M4 forum. Defra also holds a Retailer Forum and has regular calls with Wholesale stakeholders.
Regular meetings such as the F4 and F4 sub-groups have allowed for productive two-way engagement with stakeholders across the supply chain. They are an important source of intelligence and industry feedback is that this approach of bringing stakeholders and policy experts together is making good progress towards resolving issues.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
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 his Department's planned consultation on ending live animal exports for slaughter and the proposals in that consultation on temperature limits, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) cost implications for farmers and (b) effect on the supply chain; and whether businesses would be expected to use weather forecasts to assess whether or not they would be able to transport live animals.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
We have published a consultation stage impact assessment which estimates the potential impact on businesses of proposals to end live animal exports for slaughter and fattening and introduce further improvements to animal welfare during transport. We want to gather further evidence through the consultation process to further refine the impact assessment.
We are working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency on how any proposals would be implemented and enforced.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total volume was of live animal exports from the EU to each (a) nation and (b) region of the UK in each financial year since 2015.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The following table shows the volume of live animal exports from the EU to the UK in each financial year since 2015.
Financial year | tonnes |
2015/16 | 77,800 |
2016/17 | 56,100 |
2017/18 | 59,000 |
2018/19 | 52,800 |
2019/20 (provisional) | 50,700 |
The data provided for live animal imports includes farm animals (cattle, sheep, pigs etc.) as well as non-farm animals (exotic animals, race horses etc). Both breeding and non-breeding animals are included. Country and regional level trade data is not readily available, and has not been provided.
Data source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the outcome of trade negations with the EU on the volume of live animal exports from (a) Wales and (b) the UK to the EU.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
My department has not made an assessment of how the volume of live animal exports might change based on the possible outcome of the trade talks with the EU. Trade negotiations with the EU are ongoing, and we will always look to agree the best deal for British producers and businesses. We want to maintain a relationship with the EU which is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, and centred on free trade. We are continuing to work closely with traders and are implementing processes to ensure that exporters understand the requirements they need to meet to continue trading within the EU following the end of the Transition Period, including for live animal exports.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the financial effect of ending live animal exports for slaughter and fattening that begin in or transit through England or Wales on farmers in (a) Wales and (b) England.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
We have prepared a provisional impact assessment to estimate the potential impact on businesses of our proposals to end live animal exports for slaughter and fattening and introduce further improvements to animal welfare during transport. This will be made available during the consultation period.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total value was of UK meat exports by (a) country and (b) region to (i) the EU and (ii) all other countries in each financial year since 2015.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The following table shows UK exports of meat to EU and non-EU countries in each financial year since 2015.
Financial year | EU | Non-EU |
2015/16 | £1.2bn | £242m |
2016/17 | £1.3bn | £325m |
2017/18 | £1.5bn | £342m |
2018/19 | £1.5bn | £384m |
2019/20 (provisional) | £1.5bn | £562m |
Data source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total value was of UK live animal exports by (a) country and (b) region to (i) the EU and (ii) all other countries in each financial year since 2015.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The following table shows UK exports of live animals to EU and non-EU countries in each financial year since 2015.
Financial year | EU | Non-EU |
2015/16 | £302m | £138m |
2016/17 | £359m | £185m |
2017/18 | £356m | £178m |
2018/19 | £337m | £201m |
2019/20 (provisional) | £352m | £211m |
The data provided for live animal exports includes farm animals (cattle, sheep, pigs etc.) as well as non-farm animals (exotic animals, race horses etc). Both breeding and non-breeding animals are included. Country and regional level trade data is not readily available, and has not been provided.
Data source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
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 25 November 2020 to Question 118511 on Dogs: Imports, what discussions he has had with Eurotunnel on their decision to reduce the number of animals allowed to travel in each vehicle from 20 to five.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The regulations governing the non-commercial movements of cats, dogs and ferrets stipulate that people cannot bring more than 5 pets per person into the UK unless they are attending or training for a competition, show, sporting event (and written evidence of registration is required). However, dogs imported into the UK for rescue or rehoming must be moved under the commercial 'Balai Directive' regulations, which has different requirements. These regulations place no limits on consignment sizes. Any decisions made by the carriers (such as ferries and trains) to restrict consignment sizes in ways not required by the regulations are commercial decisions to which the Government is not party.
It is for carriers, in this case Eurotunnel, to decide whether to introduce any additional conditions on passengers that go beyond the legal requirements in the regulations, including those that relate to travelling with pets.
Anybody wishing to move animals into the UK during these unprecedented times must plan all journeys carefully, ensuring that the proposed journey is realistic and complies with all relevant regulations and legislation around the movement of animals throughout the animals' entire journey, including welfare in transport, as well as relevant COVID-19 legislation.