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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposal by The Wildlife Trusts on 18 December 2021 to ban peat imports; and what plans they have, if any, to introduce measures to prevent offshoring of peatland damage to countries with less stringent legislation.

We are currently consulting on measures to end the use of peat in horticulture in England and Wales. This includes a ban on the retail sale of peat, which would see domestic peat and imports of peat treated alike. In 2020, bagged growing media containing peat in the retail sector accounted for almost 70% of peat sold in the UK.

Our focus on ending the use of peat in horticulture in England and Wales not only protects UK peat bogs but recognises that two thirds of peat sold in the UK is imported from the rest of Europe.

We welcome views from our stakeholders and encourage them to respond to the consultation, which is open for responses until 18 March 2022.

Please follow the link to the consultation:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ending-the-retail-sale-of-peat-in-horticulture-in-england-and-wales.