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

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 16 January (HL12717, HL12718 and HL12719), what category of individual will be designated as an authorised signatory for export health certificates to enable products of animal origin, including (1) food for human consumption, and (2) animal by-products not intended for human consumption, to pass from the UK into the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Only Official Veterinarians can sign certificates for animal products intended for the EU for human consumption, except in the case of fishery, shellfish and composite products, which can be signed by a non-veterinarian (referred to as an Official Inspector in the certificates for these products). Certificates for animal by-products (not for human consumption) have to be signed by an Official Veterinarian.

Official Veterinarians authorised to sign certificates in Great Britain are trained and authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and then employed privately. In Northern Ireland, Official Veterinarians are employed and trained by Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA).