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 she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the readiness of (a) food border checks and (b) veterinary provisions.

In August 2023, the Government published the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) which sets a new regime of sanitary and phytosanitary controls regime for all imports to GB. Defra continues to engage regularly with other Government departments, including Cabinet Office to prepare for implementation of the BTOM. Under the BTOM inspections for food safety, biosecurity and animal health will take place at Border Control Posts (BCPs) from April. BCP operators must demonstrate that there are sufficient on-site staff, including official veterinarians, to carry out the required import checks on consignments, and BCPs should therefore have sufficient staff to undertake their function. There will be continual dialogue between Defra, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Port Health Authorities to ensure that the correct levels of staffing are in place to deliver BTOM.