Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations his Department has received from companies that import meat from EU Member States on how to ensure that customs processes for meat imports are efficient to prevent spoiling and reduced shelf-life if no deal has been agreed when the UK leaves the EU.

DEFRA has received representations from companies and trade associations about this issue. We continue to work closely with these stakeholders. I discussed these issues with the International Meat Trade Association in November.

The precise nature of our future relationship with the EU is still to be determined and is the subject of negotiation. The Government is working to get the best deal for Britain and through our new relationship with the EU are aiming to achieve the freest possible trade in goods and services between the UK and the EU.