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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle imports of poultry not reared in accordance with UK legal standards.

The Government is proud of the high food safety and animal welfare standards that underpin our high-quality Great British produce. We have no intention of undercutting our own reputation for quality by lowering our food and animal welfare standards.

All food and drink products imported into the UK irrespective of the purpose for which they will be used has to comply with our import requirements and regulatory standards for food safety. Agri-food products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market as long as they comply with our requirements. This includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners alongside products traded under new agreements.

A range of Government departments, agencies and bodies continue to ensure that standards are met including the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Health and Safety Executive and Local Authorities Trading Standards. They will continue to do so to ensure that all food imports comply with the relevant UK product rules and regulations.