Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken by her Department to ensure that animal conservation is recognised and promoted as part of a future UK – EU SPS veterinary agreement.

Defra is committed to supporting animal conservation and has been clear about the importance of our high animal welfare standards.

This Government has committed, with the EU, to conclude negotiations before the next UK-EU Summit on the SPS Agreement which will make it easier to move animals between GB and the EU while protecting animal health and welfare standards. While those negotiations are ongoing, Defra cannot comment further on the SPS agreement.