Recommendations & Conclusions
31 items
3
Recommendation
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
Defra should commission a risk assessment of the type published by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in 2004 for the import of contaminated meat and meat products into Great Britain and subsequent exposure of livestock. It should model the probable amount of meat and dairy illegally imported per year, the probability …
Government response. The government agrees on the importance of assessing risks from illegal imports and improving data on seizures. They are working with agencies to understand existing data and improve its capture and sharing, but do not commit to quarterly publication of …
5
Recommendation
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
Travel operators should be legally compelled to inform travellers of the rules for personal imports from the EU into GB. Defra must immediately scale up its communications to the public about personal import rules and reach a much broader audience. Communications must explain both the rules and their purpose, such …
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating existing law already requires operators to inform travellers, and Defra continues to communicate import rules, including targeted campaigns and reminders. However, it rejects developing a digital tool for travellers, deeming it not cost-effective, and has …
11
Recommendation
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
By January 2026, Defra should create a strategy for POAO smuggling in collaboration with the National Food Crime Unit (FSA), the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (FSS), port health authorities, inland local authorities and Border Force. To be effective, this must be a genuine co- design with the enforcement …
Government response. The government partially accepts, committing to develop a revised strategic approach for the Short Straits as an initial step, which may lead to a wider UK-wide strategy later. They are also working to improve existing inter-agency intelligence sharing networks but …
14
Recommendation
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
Local authorities are a key partner in tackling illegal POAO imports but are being overlooked and under supported by Defra. (Conclusion, Paragraph 44)
Government response. The government will consider integrating representatives of port health and local authorities into the working group on illegal imports to draw on their enforcement expertise and ensure that any proposals emerging consider workforce implications, as part of work on a …
15
Recommendation
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
Local authorities should be integrated into formal information sharing and intelligence networks. The illegal imports taskforce should review the workforce needs of local authorities in relation to POAO smuggling. The taskforce should consider whether regional expert contacts would be an effective tool to support and connect enforcement teams, and should …
Government response. The government partially agrees, rejecting the establishment of a specific taskforce but committing to integrate port health and local authority representatives into an existing intelligence working group. The precise approach and regional expert contacts will be developed as part of …
16
Conclusion
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
Border Force is not adequately fulfilling its responsibility to enforce personal import rules relating to animal products; it has too many competing priorities and officers lack understanding of product of animal origin (POAO) rules and seizures. Border Force and port health authorities have shown that they can work well together …
Government response. The Government partially accepts this recommendation. They state that Port health authorities already have enforcement powers and they are not planning to extend these powers but that Defra and DPHA have resolved the immediate issue relating to the use of …
17
Recommendation
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
Port health authorities should be given stop, search and seize powers in relation to animal products and funding for enforcement presence at the border in relation to personal imports for the EU and rest of world. With the introduction of a UK-EU SPS zone and the reduction of border checks …
Government response. The government partially accepts, stating that port health authorities already have search and seize powers but declining to extend Border Force detention powers. They will discuss DPHA's proposals and consider staff redeployment as part of initial work focused on the …
22
Recommendation
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
In the absence of an effective deterrent for meat smuggling and within the context of high rates of non-compliance with import rules, 20% operational coverage for DPHA’s anti-meat smuggling operations is insufficient. Defra’s decision to cease funding for official veterinarians at the Port of Dover is counterintuitive to its ambition …
Government response. Defra and DPHA have resolved the immediate issue relating to the use of official veterinarians and Defra is content that DPHA should be able to determine how best to staff the service they provide. Defra is in active and positive …
23
Recommendation
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
The Committee has recommended that POAO enforcement powers and funding be transferred to port health authorities; in any interim period, emergency funding should be provided to at least double DPHA’s operational coverage at the border and should allow for the use of official veterinarians who are evidently an asset to …
Government response. The government partially accepts, clarifying that port health authorities already have enforcement powers and the issue regarding official veterinarians is resolved. They are in discussions with DPHA regarding increased funding for 2026/27 but cannot commit to specific levels or an …
24
Conclusion
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
The space and facilities at the Port of Dover are not suitable for seizing high volumes of potentially contaminated meat. Defra needs to think creatively about how it can tackle this unprecedented challenge at the Short Straits, rather than being constrained by the boundaries of existing enforcement arrangements. (Conclusion, Paragraph …
Government response. The government partially accepts, committing Defra to explore options for repurposing space at Bastion Point, provide a cost-benefit analysis, and consider health and safety impacts in future funding discussions with DPHA.
25
Recommendation
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border:…
Accepted in Part
Defra should work with DPHA to consider how the space available at its Bastion Point site could be repurposed to support with enforcement activities and relieve pressure at the port. Defra should conduct a cost- benefit analysis of repurposing Bastion Point and provide this to the Committee. Additionally, Defra should …
Government response. The government partially accepts, committing to work with DPHA to explore repurposing Bastion Point and to provide the outcome of a cost-benefit analysis. They will ensure health and safety impacts are considered in future funding discussions with DPHA, but do …
2
Recommendation
4th Report - UK-EU trade: towards a res…
Accepted in Part
It is essential that Defra thoroughly reviews the implementation of the BTOM. Defra should commit to this review in its response to our Report, and the review must be published no later than January 2026. It should set out why and how much variation in inspection rates is occurring between …
Government response. The government partially accepts, committing to improve understanding of inspection rates and variations across BCPs and to continue collecting inspection data, but does not commit to a new comprehensive public review by January 2026 or a specific approach/timescale for publishing …
8
Recommendation
4th Report - UK-EU trade: towards a res…
Accepted in Part
In an annex included in the response to this Report, Defra should provide us with the August and November 2024 figures relating to the number of lorries that were directed to Sevington Inland BCP for border checks and the number of lorries that present themselves to the BCP for inspection …
Government response. The government partially accepts the recommendation, committing to provide further data on non-attendance at Sevington BCP by January 2026, and outlining the process for validating re-exported goods. It assesses commercial seals but rejects a legal mechanism due to potential for …
10
Recommendation
4th Report - UK-EU trade: towards a res…
Accepted in Part
In response to this Report, the Government should confirm that it has produced a list of pre-identified commodity codes for the top five notifiable diseases and provide a copy of this database containing the commodity codes in question to the committee. The Government should also confirm that it has established …
Government response. The government partially accepts, confirming that a dedicated digital team is in place to update IPAFFS 24/7. However, it declines to publicly share the list of commodity codes for notifiable diseases, citing exploitation risks, but confirms their identification is complete.
11
Conclusion
4th Report - UK-EU trade: towards a res…
Accepted in Part
It is disappointing that it required persistent questioning from the Committee over a period of three months before the Department provided answers to all our questions regarding the initial response to foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Europe. This reflected cultural and bureaucratic issues within Defra that impeded effective …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of understanding inspection rates and will work to improve its use of existing data and consider how it can be articulated publicly, while also emphasizing that border checks are not the primary mechanism for managing …
14
Recommendation
4th Report - UK-EU trade: towards a res…
Accepted in Part
Until a Common SPS Area is formally established, IPAFFS will remain the UK’s primary digital system for managing border biosecurity. It must therefore be capable of meeting the operational needs of all users and enforcement bodies, including importers, port health authorities, and inland local authorities. The system’s interoperability with EU …
Government response. The government partially accepts, committing to maintain and update IPAFFS and evaluate its feasibility for integration with EU systems, but rejects providing wider access to local authorities due to data concerns and defers specific integration commitments until EU negotiations.
15
Recommendation
4th Report - UK-EU trade: towards a res…
Accepted in Part
In response to this Report, Defra should confirm it is taking steps to provide local authorities with real-time access to IPAFFS to support enforcement and traceability of consignments. Until the UK gains full access to EU systems, IPAFFS should be maintained, updated as needed, and evaluated for potential integration with …
Government response. The government partially accepts, committing to maintain and update IPAFFS and evaluate its integration with EU systems, but rejects giving wider access to local authorities due to data implications and cannot commit to pilot projects before EU negotiations commence.
19
Recommendation
4th Report - UK-EU trade: towards a res…
Accepted in Part
If the Government continues to operate a BCP within the common SPS area, any cost recovery mechanism must be co-designed with industry and should not disproportionately affect small and medium-sized enterprises. In the interest of transparency, the Government should publish the operational costs of running Sevington Inland BCP. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
Government response. The government states the Common User Charge (CUC) was designed to minimise business impact and publishes estimated operating costs for Sevington BCP, committing to publish actual costs after the annual review, but doesn't explicitly commit to co-design future mechanisms with …
21
Recommendation
4th Report - UK-EU trade: towards a res…
Accepted in Part
The Government should adopt the Horticultural Trades Association’s proposal for a hybrid inspection model, combining BCP and PoD approaches. Following a short consultation with industry, the Government should designate specific consignments eligible for PoD inspections. Additionally, APHA should share with us its guidance on the biosecurity protocols in place for …
Government response. The government rejects adopting a hybrid inspection model that includes PoDs, citing biosecurity and legislative reasons. However, it did provide the requested guidance on biosecurity protocols for inspecting multiple consignments at BCPs in an attached annex.
24
Recommendation
4th Report - UK-EU trade: towards a res…
Accepted in Part
Reports that the Government may be seeking to sell and repurpose the inland border control post at Sevington raises concerns about its ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving the facility while it remains operational. This demonstrates an assumption that an SPS agreement will soon remove the need for inland checks. …
Government response. The government partially accepts the recommendation, committing to maintain and improve the Sevington BCP in the interim and comply with the New Burdens Doctrine for local authorities, but defers clarity on the site's long-term future pending EU negotiations.
25
Recommendation
4th Report - UK-EU trade: towards a res…
Accepted in Part
The Government should publicly clarify its intentions regarding the future of Sevington BCP, including whether it plans to sell or repurpose the site. Regardless of any future SPS agreement, Defra should commit to maintaining the facility and improving the efficiency of current border checks to ensure continued resilience and value …
Government response. The government partially accepts the recommendation, committing to maintain and improve the Sevington BCP in the interim and comply with the New Burdens Doctrine for local authorities, but defers clarity on the site's long-term future pending EU negotiations.
12
Conclusion
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an…
Accepted in Part
Frequent border policy changes over recent years have created disruption, uncertainty and financial pressure for port health and local authorities. Stakeholders are clear that another shift in border regimes will only be manageable if timelines are realistic, communicated early, and not subject to repeated revisions or delays. (Conclusion, Paragraph 41) …
Government response. The government intends for the new SPS Agreement to take effect in mid-2027 and will provide more detailed guidance for businesses starting in May and will work with businesses to ensure a smooth transition.
13
Recommendation
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an…
Accepted in Part
The Government should provide a clear, realistic transition timetable for moving to a common SPS area, published with key milestones at least 12–24 months in advance. This must not be subject to repeated changes, and implementation plans should be developed with businesses, industry, port health and local authorities. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
Government response. The government intends for the new SPS Agreement to take effect in mid-2027 and will provide more detailed guidance for businesses starting in May and will work with businesses to ensure a smooth transition.
25
Conclusion
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an…
Accepted in Part
Both the EU and the UK are exposed to biosecurity risks from illegal meat imports. Although future access to EU data systems and intelligence within a common SPS area could support British border enforcement efforts, there is nothing within an SPS agreement to actively prevent or deter criminal activity linked …
Government response. Defra has established a new Illegal Imports Improvement project and will develop a cross-government action plan, but does not accept that a strategy focused solely on demand drivers is the right approach.
26
Recommendation
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an…
Accepted in Part
Defra must not wait until SPS negotiations are concluded before developing a strategy to reduce demand for illegally imported animal products. We reiterate the recommendation made in our previous report on this topic that the Government, by June 2026, should begin work with the FSA, FSS and local authorities to …
Government response. The government has established a new Illegal Imports Improvement project and will develop a cross-government action plan, but does not accept that a strategy focused solely on demand drivers is the right approach in the short term.
27
Conclusion
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an…
Accepted in Part
We welcome the Minister’s commitment to reestablish the cross-ministerial working group on borders, recognising the importance of coordinated oversight of biosecurity risks and border operations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 74)
Government response. The government acknowledges the cross-ministerial working group on borders, and states the Illegal Imports Improvement Project brings together a range of workstreams and stakeholders and the Goods Border Small Ministerial Group first met on 9 July 2025.
28
Recommendation
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an…
Accepted in Part
In its response to this report, the Government should provide details on how many times the group has met since September 2025 and share minutes of its discussions. Defra should expand the ministerial working group to include an additional operational group comprising of frontline agencies operating at the border, such …
Government response. The government acknowledges the Goods Border Small Ministerial Group and its meetings, but declines to share minutes publicly and refers to existing operational working groups for operational activity.
32
Conclusion
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an…
Accepted in Part
A common UK-EU SPS area is expected to reduce administrative burdens, costs, and resource pressures at the Short Straits. However, adopting EU-style “third country” controls on Rest of World imports risks increasing checks, costs, and delays, particularly in sectors reliant on non EU suppliers, such as fruit. (Conclusion, Paragraph 84)
Government response. The government intends to implement the new GB-EU SPS Agreement from mid-2027, and is working closely with port operators and port health authorities to understand the impact of the changes on them, but does not intend to publish a specific …
33
Recommendation
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an…
Accepted in Part
Following an SPS agreement with the EU, the Government should set out an assessment of the agreement on Rest of World (RoW) supply chains. This should include identifying opportunities to redeploy existing infrastructure and staff and maintaining a proportionate risk based approach wherever possible. The Government should provide affected RoW …
Government response. The government intends to implement the new GB-EU SPS Agreement from mid-2027, and is working closely with port operators and port health authorities to understand the impact of the changes on them, but does not intend to publish a specific …
36
Conclusion
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an…
Accepted in Part
We expect that, together with Bastion Point, Sevington BCP will need to be repurposed following the anticipated reduction in border checks for EU goods once a common SPS area is established. (Conclusion, Paragraph 91)
Government response. The government will prepare a business case for the future of Sevington BCP following the establishment of a common SPS area, focusing on operational, financial and statutory considerations, but will not publish it due to commercial sensitivity.
37
Recommendation
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an…
Accepted in Part
In addition to the cost-benefit analysis of repurposing Bastion Point BCP already committed to us, the Government should also provide its plans, with an associated cost analysis, for Sevington BCP following the establishment of a common SPS area, no later than three months after negotiations with the EU are completed. …
Government response. The government is preparing a business case for Sevington BCP, focusing on operational, financial, and statutory considerations, but does not intend to publish the full business case due to commercial sensitivity.