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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with her counterparts in the EU to ensure that there is uniform acceptance of valid Export Health Certificates across all ports in the EU; and if she will make a statement.

The UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) has written to the European Commission on several occasions since January, raising technical issues relating to Export Health Certificates. These include issues arising from consistency of interpretation. We have received helpful clarifications from the Commission and these have been sent to all EU Member States, meaning there are fewer incidences of differing approaches. The EU Member State relations team have liaised directly with EU Member States where we have had issues with individual Border Control Posts. The CVO has also had many meetings on this issue.