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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they permit non-assured imported grain to be used to produce animal feed.

The UK prides itself on world leading animal health and welfare standards. Farmers across the nation deliver on the standards set out in our world class legislation on matters such as living environment for animals, access to veterinary services and suitable diet for farmed animals.

Legislation is in place to ensure feed may be placed on the market and used only if it is safe and does not have a direct adverse effect on the environment or animal welfare.

Port health authorities are responsible for sampling and analysing imported feed products on a risk-based approach. Where analysis is carried out, the results would be reviewed by the relevant authorities and appropriate action taken. Local Authorities will inspect the feed businesses systems and the results of any checks performed by them, when they conduct Official Controls at the business. Feed businesses will routinely check the consignments of grain they have received.

Feed businesses are responsible for deciding whether or not they wish to purchase assured or non-assured grain for use in animal feed as this is a commercial decision.

Cereals and oilseeds make up a significant proportion of animal feed, most of which are internationally traded commodities. Subsequently, their supply chains are dynamic and responsive to global market developments in price and availability. Defra publishes statistics on domestic agricultural production on gov.uk however we make no assessment of end market. There are a number of external factors that will influence the split between human and industrial use of grain and that used for animal feed.