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

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the European Union to enable frictionless cross-border travel for thoroughbred horses.

The UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Zone as announced at the UK-EU Leaders Summit on May 19, 2025, to reduce delays and paperwork at the border. The movement of live animals is within scope of the agreement and will be considered as part of this. Our aim is to start the detailed negotiations as soon as possible, as we want to see businesses benefit from removing barriers to trade.

Regarding the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), we have been clear that compliance with the existing BTOM controls must continue until further notice, because the UK’s biosecurity and public health must continue to be protected. Where areas of the BTOM are yet to be delivered, we are in the process of reviewing our plans in response to the UK-EU Summit Common Understanding. We are aiming to share more detail on our approach.