Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 28 January (HL Deb col 923) indicating that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will shortly publish a perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) plan, (1) whether they plan to consult health experts and campaigners in addition to industry, (2) whether they are using the precautionary principle in considering the use and environmental presence of PFAS, and (3) when the plan will be published.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government published the PFAS Plan on 3 February 2026.
The plan will serve as a platform to engage further with industry, other bodies, and the public on PFAS. This will include engagement with health experts and campaigners.
In addressing the risks posed by PFAS, the Government has given due regard to the environmental principles policy statement, pursuant to the Environment Act 2021. This includes the integration, prevention, rectification at source, ‘polluter pays’ principle, and the precautionary principles.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of European Union proposals to ensure that all imported plastic labelled as recycled is in fact recycled and produced under appropriate environmental and labour conditions; and whether they plan to mirror those proposals.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra will consider EU proposals on imports containing recycled plastic as part of their ongoing review of EU packaging and packaging waste regulations.
This Government is committed to rooting out human rights, labour and environmental abuses from global supply chains.
In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched the Responsible Business Conduct review, to evaluate the UK’s current approach, and assess the merits of alternative policy options to support responsible business. (DBT) Ministers will update Parliament when the review is complete.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to uphold their previous commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies; and whether they plan to introduce further legislation.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter.
The department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban.
Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
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 8 December (HL11969), what plans they have to restrict the import of animal products produced using antibiotic growth promoters, regardless of country of origin.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In line with the UK’s own domestic position on the use of antibiotic growth promoters, and considering our international obligations as a trading partner, the Government is engaging with all trading partners. This is to secure assurances that they have measures in place ensuring that antimicrobials used for growth promotion or yield enhancement have not been used in food-producing animals or animal products exported to Great Britain for human consumption.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the independent report Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2025: infections, published on 4 December 2025, what action they plan to take in response to the specific additional recommendation about the link between agricultural use of novel fungicides and the spread of resistant strains of fungi with the capacity to cause serious disease.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government recognises the importance of carefully managing pesticide use, including fungicides, to protect the environment and human health and address the risks of resistance.
During the plant protection product approvals process, the Health and Safety Executive considers the potential for resistance development in the target pest organism. Where resistance is known or anticipated, limitations are placed on product use to mitigate resistance developing. Defra is also funding work by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board which provides farmers best practice to minimise the risk of resistance emerging.
Through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Department of Health and Social Care has provided over £12 million in funding over the last five years for research into fungal infections and tackling antifungal resistance. Defra has also co-funded a research programme for UK Research and Innovation on ‘Transdisciplinary research to tackle antimicrobial resistance’.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is routinely monitoring threats from antifungal resistance. The National Mycology Reference Laboratory performs antifungal susceptibility testing of fungi from human infections from across the UK. UKHSA also monitors antifungal susceptibility testing data for fungal yeast pathogens isolated from blood samples from local microbiology laboratories in England. Trends are published annually.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce explicit requirements in the pesticide approval process to assess evidence on antifungal cross-resistance in non-target fungi; and what timetable they have set for any such changes.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Currently HSE considers the potential for resistance development in the target pest organism during the plant protection product approvals process. Where resistance is known or anticipated, HSE place specific limitations on the use of the product to help mitigate the likelihood and speed of resistance development. There are currently no plans to make changes to the process for regulating plant protection products.
Nevertheless, this Government recognises the dangers of anti-microbial resistance, including cross-resistance from fungicides. Defra is taking action to address the risks of resistance building by empowering farmers to make informed decisions as they manage pests, weeds and diseases. We have funded a roadshow, led by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), that is delivering practical advice to help farmers and agronomists to minimise the risk of resistance developing. This will run until March 2026.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to follow the plan set out in the English Aquaculture Strategy, published in November 2020, in particular the target of a 75 per cent increase in seafood consumption by 2040.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to supporting the sustainable, industry‑led growth of the aquaculture sector, and the English Aquaculture Strategy sets out the aquaculture sector’s ambitions for 2040.
We have no plans for a legally binding food production target, but as we develop plans to support delivery of the food strategy outcomes, we are focussed on securing resilient domestic production that supports good growth and enhances domestic food security.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to conduct a feasibility study on what percentage of imported plants can be grown in the UK; and if so, what steps they will take to develop an action plan for imported productive and ornamental trees.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the importance of imported plants to support domestic horticultural production; and continues to work with the sector through regular engagement with the Environmental Horticulture Group—a coalition of industry leaders from across the sector—to support the production of trees and plants grown in the UK.
In 2024 the UK imported approximately 120 million trees, shrubs and bushes, down from 216 million in 2020. However, during the same period the net mass rose from 43 tonnes to 119 tonnes, indicating an increase in larger plants. We operate a robust, risk-based import regime to manage biosecurity risks and meet World Trade Organisation obligations.
Defra and the Forestry Commission are delivering measures to strengthen domestic tree production, including capital grants, knowledge sharing and sector collaboration. In 2025, up to £7.5 million was awarded through the Tree Production Innovation Fund, Seed Sourcing Grant and Tree Production Capital Grant. These initiatives ensure a reliable supply of high-quality, biosecure trees to meet the UK’s planting ambitions.
The Forestry Commission also publishes the annual Tree Supply Report, which shows that in 2024 more than 161 million saplings were grown in British forest nurseries.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) agricultural composting facilities, (2) green waste, and (3) crop residue piles, as potential reservoirs for azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus; and what plans they have to improve surveillance of that issue.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In support of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) national action plan commitments, the Environment Agency (EA) actively carries out research into environmental transmission and risks associated with antimicrobial resistance. This includes research on monitoring antifungal resistance and bioaerosols.
The EA recognises the potential human health impacts of bioaerosols, particularly on the respiratory system. The EA actively regulates bioaerosol risks from waste treatment, including open composting of green wastes and digestate fibres. Regulated activities must hold a permit. Higher risk facilities monitor bioaerosol emissions including aspergillus fumigatus. These controls developed from over a decade of research collaboration with the EA, academia and industry.
External crop residue storage (non-waste) at anaerobic digestion (AD) sites does not require a permit. However, Defra has recently concluded a consultation on regulatory reform to include non-waste AD facilities. The reform has potential scope to align non-waste AD with regulated waste AD under the Environmental Permitting Regulations.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to penalise catering outlets for any unreasonable refusal to provide drinks in customer-owned reusable cups.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to reducing single‑use packaging waste and supporting packaging reuse. We recognise that many consumers wish to use their own reusable cups, and many businesses already accommodate this.
At present, we do not have plans to introduce penalties for catering outlets that decline to serve drinks in customer‑owned reusable cups.