The EFRA Committee holds the final evidence session of its
biosecurity at the border focus, as part of its animal and plant health
inquiry, at 2.30pm on Tuesday 6 May.
MPs will question the of Ullock, the
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on topics including the
outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Europe, contingency
planning and the enforcement of the recently imposed ban on
personal imports of meat and dairy from the EU.
The session will cover the adequacy and stringency of biosecurity
controls at the UK's borders and the Department's current
approach to tackling illegal imports of animal products. MPs will
pose specific questions about the border controls at the Port of
Dover and the adequacy of the funding settlement for Dover Port
Health Authority to continue its anti-meat smuggling
operations.
The Committee will also question the Minister on progress with
the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM),
and will raise questions about reports of limitations in the
availability and quality of data on inspections at border control
posts.
The Committee will also ask the Biosecurity Minister about the
upcoming implementation in July of new checks on fruit and
vegetables from the EU.
Witnesses on 6 May
- The of Ullock, Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs
- Spencer Draper, Head of Borders Delivery, Northern Ireland,
Biosecurity and Trade Programme, Department for Environment Food
and Rural Affairs
- Gareth Baynham-Hughes, Director of Animal Plant Health and
Welfare, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
