Written question asked by Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour) on Monday, 5 October 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 October 2026. It was answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Thursday, 15 October 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Animal Products: Information Sharing

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish a formal real-time information-sharing system involving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland (DAERA), the Food Standards Agency, the European Commission and the Government of Ireland for the exchange of import alerts, laboratory findings, establishment suspensions, food recalls and certificate failures affecting products of animal origin.

Answer: The UK is negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement with the EU which will strengthen cooperation on biosecurity and public health. Access to relevant EU agencies, systems and databases will enable real-time information sharing on SPS risks, including food safety issues, emerging threats and disease outbreaks. The precise arrangements, including for Northern Ireland, remain subject to ongoing negotiations.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL3863
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Food Standards Agency Animal products Import controls Northern Ireland Irish Government European Commission Information sharing Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk