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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures has the government taken to help ensure the free flow of livestock between NI and GB.

Defra has maintained longstanding arrangements to safeguard animal health while supporting the movement of livestock between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. These measures recognise the separate epidemiological statuses of GB and NI and the need to protect against disease risk while supporting trade within the UK internal market.

Defra has agreed technical easements to enable the flow of livestock. For example, livestock moving from NI to GB are not subject to residency requirements, if hosted at an APHA approved centre and returned to NI within 15 days. We will continue to work closely with the livestock sector and with Devolved Governments to facilitate movement and market access between UK nations.