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Have Your Say on UK Biosecurity: EFRA Committee Inquiry on Animal and Plant Health

9 January, 2025

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee has launched a new inquiry into the UK’s biosecurity measures for animal and plant imports. This inquiry provides an important opportunity for the environmental horticulture sector to shape future policies impacting plant health, trade, and supply chains.

Through its focus on biosecurity at the border, the Committee will examine the stringency of biosecurity controls as well as their impact on international trade following the introduction of new animal and plant health checks on goods from the EU last year. 

In their inquiry, MPs will investigate the efficacy of biosecurity measures and what immediate improvements can be made to personal and commercial import controls in advance of, or in the absence of, a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) or veterinary agreement with the EU. 

Over the span of the Committee’s broader inquiry on animal and plant health, MPs will scrutinise the resourcing and work of the Animal and Plant Health Agency and are also expected to examine a range of topics, including a potential SPS agreement with the EU. Other issues likely to be examined include threats to UK forestry and the associated risk of ecosystem collapse, as well as the impact of pests, diseases, and biosecurity measures. 

The Chair of the EFRA Committee, Alistair Carmichael MP, said: 

“The biosecurity measures we have in this country are of the utmost importance. Any weak points expose the UK to serious risks, such as African swine fever, which would have catastrophic consequences for the agriculture sector.

“In this inquiry, we are setting out to assess the adequacy of our biosecurity measures and will consider what could be done to strengthen biosecurity at the border.

“We want to hear from the wide range of stakeholders with an interest in biosecurity, from the veterinary sector to the agricultural, forestry and horticultural sectors, to workers and businesses in the food and drink supply chain, and enforcement bodies for welfare, standards and hygiene, such as local authorities and port health authorities.” 

Call for evidence

To inform its inquiry, the Committee invites written evidence submissions on any or all of the below points by 23:59 on Wednesday, 29 January. 

  • the adequacy of personal import controls on animals, plants and their products and the enforcement of controls 
  • the adequacy of SPS controls on commercial imports, their enforcement, and the impact on businesses 
  • the performance of Defra and its agencies (such as the APHA) in delivering the Border Target Operating Model and communicating and engaging with stakeholders 
  • how any concerns detailed in your submission may be remedied (in advance or in the absence of an SPS agreement with the EU)

Written evidence can be submitted here.

In addition to submitting evidence directly, the HTA Policy & Public Affairs Team would be keen to be copied in or hear directly from any members to inform the HTA’s own written evidence and present a strong, unified voice to policymakers. Please share your thoughts and experiences with our team by emailing [email protected].

HTA

Media Office

[email protected]