Defra responds to the EFRA Committee’s concerns over the implementation of import checks

The Chair of the EFRA Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, last week wrote to the Defra SecretarySteve Barclay, to raise the Committee's concerns over the reported delays to the 30 April import checks.

The Committee has today received a reply to its letter, from Lord Douglas-Miller, the Minister for Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Commenting on the Department's response received today, the Chair of the EFRA Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, said:

“The UK's departure from the European Union presented an opportunity to improve our biosecurity at the border against diseases such as African swine fever.

“Defra has said that there will be graduated approach to the introduction of checks and that they will be building up to full inspection rates over time, but it is disappointing that they have been unable to provide clear answers on when the measures will be scaled up to their intended capacity.

“We remain concerned about the measures that will be in place to safeguard against the potential non-compliance which could take place between the point of entry at the Port of Dover and Sevington, 22 miles away.”