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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has for changes to sheep ageing methods to control transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

We are currently considering whether there are options for implementing a change to the method for ageing sheep in relation to control of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

However, under EU rules, legal advice is that alternative methods to the accepted method of ageing by dentition may not be available to the UK as a third country if we leave the EU without a deal and wish to continue to export sheep meat to the EU.

We are aware of the concerns from the sheep sector about this and will keep the sector updated on our plans, taking account of developments with regard to our departure from the EU.