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 impact of the Windsor Framework on the trade in seeds between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Windsor Framework permits the movement of all seeds from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Previous movements of seeds would require a Phytosanitary Certificate which can be costly and burdensome. Since 1 October 2023, professional operators have been able to move seeds from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Plant Health Label scheme, allowing seeds to move freely around the United Kingdom. Defra continues to engage widely and regularly with relevant stakeholders to understand the impact of the Windsor Framework on the plant and seed trade.