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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help support small businesses with importation fees on goods from the EU.

The Border Target Operating Model aims to provide a more proportionate and streamlined regime to support businesses of all sizes while maintaining high levels of biosecurity and public health protection.

The improvements to import processes brought about by simplification, digitisation and more sophisticated use of data will benefit all traders importing SPS good to the UK.

Furthermore, Trusted trader schemes will be piloted throughout 2024 and, following successful pilots, trusted trader schemes will be open to businesses that can demonstrate they meet the necessary requirements. These schemes aim to minimise burdens and provide benefits to businesses, consumers and government and reduce costs (including running costs).