UK Shellfish Exports Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Truscott
Main Page: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Truscott's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(3 years, 6 months ago)
Lords ChamberMy Lords, UK shellfish catches were valued at £393 million in 2019, so this is a very serious matter for the fishing industry, especially in the south-west. Is this not yet another example of a loose end left over from a botched negotiation with the EU over Brexit? Does the Minister now think that Brussels is trying to punish the UK for leaving the EU?
My Lords, the Secretary of State has written to Commissioner Kyriakides in a very friendly and a constructive spirit. This issue relates to undepurated live bivalve molluscs and we are now addressing it. I hope that the discussions will resolve this matter so that this important trade can be resumed. It is important for exports; it is also important to all those businesses on the continent that have set up depuration outlets because they wish to be close to the final destination market. I think that this is where discussions with the EU will be very important.