Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed border target operating model on the availability of food.

The Border Target Operating Model proposes a new control regime for imports of animal and plant products. It will implement an innovative, risk-based approach to border controls for imports ensuring that goods can flow and checks, delays and waste are minimised.

As set out in our Food Strategy published in 2022, the resilience and reliability of food supply chains is a key objective of this Government.

The draft Border Target Operating Model was developed with input from business. Our innovative and risk-based approach to border controls will limit complexity for businesses, whilst providing the critical border controls that will keep the UK safe from a range of biosecurity, human health and security threats.

Many food products will require no new certification or checks, and where they are needed importers will be able to complete them more simply. Some businesses may need to adapt their business models, and we will support them to do that.