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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with European counterparts on the resumption of exports to the EU of shellfish harvested in Class B waters.

The Government continues to challenge the restrictions imposed by the European Union on the import of undepurated Live Bivalve Molluscs from Class B waters. Most recently, the UK tabled this issue at the Trade Partnership Committee held on 1st December 2022, and again at the Partnership Council meeting between the Foreign Secretary and European Commission Vice-President on 24th March 2023. The minutes for the Trade Partnership Committee can be found on GOV.UK. The EU’s response to the UK’s challenge is that they will not resume trade in these commodities as they do not trade in them with any third country. The EU has recently responded to our requests for a risk assessment underpinning their position. This response is currently under consideration.