Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps his Department is taking to ensure appropriate sanitary and phytosanitary checks are in place to avoid customs delays to onshoring perishable foodstuffs and medicines in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The UK currently ensures appropriate sanitary and phytosanitary checks are in place at the border through the use of the EU’s TRACES import notification system. In the event of a no deal, the UK will lose access to this system. To prepare for this scenario, the Government has developed the UK’s own import notification capability.

This capability was in place for exit on 12 April and will be in place for exit on 31 October. This will ensure resources are targeted appropriately, so that sanitary and phytosanitary checks can continue to protect the UK from risks to public health while delays at the border are minimised.