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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on the transportation of livestock from the UK to the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

To export into the EU, the UK will need to be listed as a third country by the EU. We have applied for that status and are now awaiting a response from the European Commission.

If we leave the EU without a deal and are listed as a third country, export health certificates, signed by an official vet or other authorised signatory, will be required for all live animals to pass into the EU and they will need to travel through a border inspection post in the EU.

Last year we also issued a call for evidence on a potential ban on the export of live animals for slaughter and on improving the welfare of livestock during transportation. The Farm Animal Welfare Committee is considering the evidence received and will report in due course.