Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce the complexity of documentation pertaining to exporting food with the European Union for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Government is committed to improving export processes for traders, for example through greater digitisation, to help reduce burdens.
Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls for exports of plants, seeds and products of animal origin to the EU are set by the EU.
Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement we hold regular discussions with the EU. This allows us to take a risk-based approach to our respective SPS border controls and provides a basis for cooperation on avoiding unnecessary barriers to trade.
In addition, we seek to facilitate trade to the EU for GB exporters by regularly raising technical issues with certain Member States.