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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Retained EU Law Bill will on UK pesticide standards; and whether all existing bans on active substances will be maintained as part of that legislation.

Defra is in the process of analysing and assessing its retained EU law (REUL) stock to determine what should be preserved as part of domestic law, and what should be repealed or amended. This work will determine how we use the powers in the Bill, including in relation to the regulation of plant protection products.

In reviewing REUL, Defra’s aim is to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose and able to drive improved environmental outcomes, while also ensuring regulators can deliver efficiently. This will ensure the UK regulatory framework is appropriate and tailored to the UK. The Government has clear environmental and climate goals, set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, and any changes to environmental regulation will need to support those goals.