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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions with international counterparts on changes to the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement) to support (a) zoo animal transfers and (b) commercial farmers; and if he will have discussions with representatives from Shaldon Zoo to discuss the application of the SPS Agreement to the Zoo's work.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures sets the overarching international rules on food safety, animal and plant health. It does not contain specifics on the movement of live animals.

For zoo animal transfers and commercial farm animal movements, Defra works with the officials in the importing country to ensure requirements are practical and achievable. Queries on animal movements can be sent to can be sent to imports@apha.gov.uk or exports@apha.gov.uk, as relevant.