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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Scottish Government’s decision to use Ultra High Frequency electronic identification technology for animals on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Farming policy is a devolved matter. The Government has not conducted a formal assessment on the impact of the Scottish Government’s decision. Defra officials are working closely with the devolved Governments to ensure compliance with the UK internal markets Act (2020).

In the recent UK-EU joint statement, the government committed to building on the stable foundation of the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to further reduce barriers to trade.

Moving goods between GB and NI will be easier, reducing the need for paperwork and checks due to the removal of SPS and other requirements.