Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to maintain the responsibilities and functions in the UK of the European Food Safety Authority (a) when the UK leaves the EU and (b) in the event of the UK leaving the EU in 2019 without an agreement.

United Kingdom Government Departments are currently working together to understand the impacts that withdrawal from the European Union will have on our relationship with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and other EU agencies. A range of options are being considered for the future of risk assessment and scientific advice in the UK. The UK has a long tradition of close scientific collaboration with EFSA which we greatly value and hope to continue in the future. The nature of the UK’s future relationship with EFSA will be subject to forthcoming negotiations and we are exploring opportunities to redefine a close working relationship with EFSA. In the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, government contingency planning includes developing UK alternatives to some of the functions currently provided by EFSA, building on existing scientific advisory and risk assessment capability.