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

To ask His Majesty's Government, since 30 April 2024, (1) what is the volume of consignments containing plants and plant products from the EU at Border Control Posts; and (2) what is the number of physical inspections at Border Control Posts of plants and plant products that have been (a) required and (b) completed.

Monitoring and enforcing the border controls introduced under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) is undertaken collaboratively between bodies including Defra, the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Border Force and HMRC.

Our checks are intelligence-led and based on biosecurity risk: It would be inappropriate for us to set out operational details such as the exact inspection details from 30 April.

Checking details, such as time taken to review consignments, could be used by bad actors looking for exploitable elements of the border to facilitate illegal imports

Furthermore, this information is also commercially sensitive. HMG does not wish to impact trader choice of route as details of checks completed may advantage/disadvantage other ports as traders may BCP shop to find what appears on paper to be the “fastest route”.