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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) support the UK poultry meat industry in key trade developments, and (2) ensure that future poultry meat imports meet Britain's welfare and production standards.

The Government is determined to get the best deal for the UK in our negotiations to leave the EU, including for our world-leading poultry sector.

Significant work is already underway to ensure that UK exporters can maintain access to EU markets after March 2019. The Government is seeking continuity for our existing EU free trade agreements as we leave the European Union. The Government is also actively working with trading partners to promote the concept of regionalisation to minimise the impact on UK exports due to any future outbreak of avian influenza in poultry.

The UK imports a wide range of produce from around the world, all of which already meet our high standards of food safety and animal and plant health. We have no reason to believe that other third countries cannot meet our high standards, and this will be a condition for any market access granted as part of future trade agreements. Any future trade agreements must work for UK consumers, farmers, and businesses.