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Written question asked by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party) on Friday, 5 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 19 June 2026. It was answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Fungal Diseases: Import Controls

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to identify and prevent the importation of drug-resistant fungal pathogens in plant-derived materials in food and non-food products; and what research they have undertaken to support this work.

Answer

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) monitors risks from global food and feed imports and will take action to control these where there is a risk to public health. FSA monitoring has not identified drug-resistant fungi as an issue of concern for food currently entering Great Britain.

The FSA is not aware of any specific risks to consumers associated with drug-resistant fungi in food. It is not conducting any specific research or surveillance in this area. However, the FSA is cognisant of the growing risk to human health associated with some fungi present in the environment, which are developing drug resistance. Research is being funded to understand this risk better, for example through the Fungal One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Network funded by UK Research and Innovation. The FSA also continues to play its part in the fight against AMR through active participation in the UK’s AMR National Action Plan and its programme of research and surveillance focused on foodborne bacterial pathogens.

In support of AMR Action Plan commitments, the Environment Agency actively carries out research into environmental AMR, including antifungal resistance.

Currently the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) considers the potential for resistance development in the target pest organism during the plant protection product approvals process. Where resistance is known or anticipated, HSE places specific limitations on the use of the product to help mitigate the likelihood and speed of resistance development.

Defra is taking action to address the risks of resistance building by empowering farmers to make informed decisions as they manage pests, weeds and diseases. The UK Pesticides National Action Plan (NAP) sets out the actions we will take to support effective and sustainable pest management. A key goal in the NAP is increasing uptake of integrated pest management – a holistic approach that reduces the likelihood of resistance building by minimising and optimising pesticide use.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL702
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Import controls Plants Fungal diseases
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk