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 prepare for the implications of an outbreak of an animal disease in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

The Government has comprehensive arrangements for dealing effectively with outbreaks of animal disease. In relation to notifiable exotic diseases, these arrangements are consistent with those set out by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). After the UK leaves the EU the Government will retain the necessary powers required to tackle animal disease.