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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 21 January (HL13085), what evidence they received from trading partners to confirm that antimicrobials used for growth promotion have not been used in food-producing animals or animal products exported to Great Britain for human consumption; and whether they will publish examples of that evidence.

Defra requires all trading partners that export food-producing animals and animal products for human consumption to Great Britain to submit residue control plans each year.

The plans monitor for the presence of pharmacologically active substances, including antimicrobials used for growth promotion. Where non‑compliance is detected, Defra can impose safeguard measures, including compulsory pre‑ or post‑import testing and import bans.

Trading partners must also provide guarantees that antimicrobials intended for growth promotion or yield enhancement have not been used. Although returns are not published, the lists of countries with approved residue control plans can be found on GOV.UK.