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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Northern Ireland Executive on future arrangements for any checks on the shipment of food and animal products from Northern Ireland to Great Britain under Northern Ireland Protocol of the EU Withdrawal Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

As part of usual Government business, the Environment Secretary has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues and members of the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, including the elements relating to the movements of agri-food and animal products.

On 20th May, we published the Command Paper, The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol (CP226).

We have always been clear that checks on live animals and agri-food will be needed for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, building on what already happens at ports like Larne and Belfast. The Government is taking this forward with the NIE. We want to ensure new administrative procedures are streamlined and do not affect the flow of trade. The engagement forum announced in the Command Paper will enable business to put forward proposals in this regard.

There will be no new regulatory checks or export declarations as goods leave Northern Ireland for Great Britain. The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol reaffirms the Government’s commitment, first set out in New Decade, New Approach, to legislate to guarantee unfettered access for Northern Ireland’s businesses to the whole of the UK internal market and will ensure that this legislation is in force for 1 January 2021.