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

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Explanatory Memorandum on European Commission Work programme for 2026, published on 17 November, what assessment they have made of the impact the "Buy European Food" campaign will have on the export of UK foods, and how that campaign complies with EU–UK treaties.

The UK and the EU are each other’s largest agrifood trade partners. In 2024, 57% (£14.1bn) of UK agri-food exports were to EU countries and 72% (£45.5bn) of UK agri-food imports were from EU countries. This trade is critical to the UK economy and food security.

The government is negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers.

The GREAT food and drink campaign, led by Defra, has been successfully promoting UK food and drink exports products globally under UK government’s GREAT Campaign brand since 2017.

The department awaits further details of the EU’s “Buy European Food” campaign, expected in 2026.