Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, in the context of the Trade and Agriculture Commission and the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement, what progress her Department has made in carrying out the duty under Section 42 of the Agriculture Act to report on (a) whether and (b) to what the proposed trade agreement with Australia is consistent with the maintenance of UK levels of statutory protection in relation to human health; which agency is providing that advice; and what remit she plans for that report to have; and if she will make a statement.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has started work to produce a report under S42 of the Agriculture Act.

DIT will be drawing on advice from a number of sources, including the independent Trade and Agriculture Commission. On human health protections, DIT is working with the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland to ensure the report is robust and comprehensive.

The remit of the S42 report is as set out in S42 of the Agriculture Act 2020.