Defra is working as quickly as possible to assess Brazilian production systems to ensure that beef and chicken from animals treated with certain antimicrobial products are not exported to Great Britain and is keeping trade restrictions under review. The assessment will include an urgent in-country audit. Sanitary and phytosanitary trade measures must be evidenced-based and proportionate in line with World Trade Organization rules.

The Government has introduced new permanent lower multipliers for eligible Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) properties. These provide nearly £1 billion per year of support to the RHL sector and benefit over 750,000 properties, replacing temporary reliefs that were in place during and after the pandemic and providing businesses with greater certainty and stability.

Full details of eligibility for the new multipliers are set out in the relevant statutory instrument (SI), which can be found online here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/1093/contents/made with guidance to support in interpreting the SI found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/business-rates-multipliers-qualifying-retail-hospitality-or-leisure. The Government expects the vast majority of eligible retail properties to benefit from the new RHL multipliers.

The Chancellor announces decisions on tax policy at fiscal events. Any future changes to business rates, including for specific sectors or property types, would be considered as part of that process.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the government is considering how we can support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds. The Department has not made such assessments of comparison between UK-grown chickens and chickens reared abroad.

This Government is supporting access to nutritious food and healthier diets through our Good Food Cycle, while respecting individual dietary choices.

The NHS Eatwell Guide includes dietary recommendations for a healthy diet. This recognises that plant-based and animal-based products can form part of a healthy, balanced diet. Adherence to the guide has been shown to improve both health and environmental outcomes.

The Animal and Plant Agency (APHA), as the national regulator for farmed animal welfare in Great Britain, undertakes proactive and reactive inspections on farms to monitor compliance with legislation. Official veterinarians of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are present in all approved slaughterhouses to monitor and enforce welfare requirements at slaughter. The APHA and FSA investigate all potential animal welfare non-compliances that come to their attention and appropriate action is taken against anyone who breaks the law.

Geographical indications (GIs) protect the names of products whose qualities, reputation or characteristics are linked to a particular place.

The Government has not formally assessed the adequacy of GI labelling on either fresh meat or fresh fish packaging. However, once a GI name has been protected, only genuine products can use that name and the appropriate GI logo in their labelling and advertising. We consider current GI labelling requirements to be clear to producers and informative to consumers. Where mislabelling or inadequate labelling comes to light, the Government takes steps to ensure corrective action protects producer and consumer interests.

The School Food Standards set the mandatory nutritional framework for food and drink provided in state‑funded schools in England.

Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals, including the sourcing of ingredients, and can choose how best to meet this duty. The department has published guidance and resources for schools to help them deliver a range of tasty and nutritious meals. Schools should make reasonable adjustments for pupils with particular requirements, for example to reflect medical, dietary and cultural needs.

This Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter. However, this Government respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

The Food Standards Agency carries out a periodic, one-week Slaughter Sector Survey in England and Wales. In the last five years, two surveys have been carried out in 2022 and 2024. Direct comparison between these surveys is difficult due to the high proportion of responses for the destination of meat in 2024 recorded as ‘unknown’, because that particular survey question is not mandatory.

For sheep, 32% of non-stun meat was recorded as exported in 2022, with 0% recorded as having an unknown destination. In 2024, 3% of non-stun meat from sheep was recorded as exported, with 36% recorded as having an unknown destination.

For meat chickens, the proportion of non-stun meat recorded as exported was 5% in 2022, compared to none recorded as exported in 2024. In both years, a further 1-2% of non-stun meat was recorded as having an unknown destination.

Copies of the 2022 and 2024 Survey Reports are attached. The 2026 Survey will be published later this year.

Defra is researching the sector’s growth potential, impacts on future emissions, and working across government to support innovation and scaling. Defra is also working with the Food Standards Agency to develop guidance for approval of new alternative protein products, including cultivated meat, while reviewing novel food regulations set out in the Food Strategy.

This government is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever. Schools are required to follow the school food standards to ensure that all children can access a healthy, nutritious meal while at school.

We have published guidance and resources for schools to help them deliver a range of tasty and nutritious meals, accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools.

Headteachers, school governors and caterers are best placed to make decisions about their school food policies, considering local circumstances and to ensure appropriate provision for cultural, religious and special dietary requirements.

While it was possible to provide seizure volumes made under Defra's African Swine Fever Programme, this has now ended and assured data is not available. Defra is currently reviewing how it collects and uses the seizure data recorded by its operational partners.

While it was possible to provide seizure volumes made under Defra's African Swine Fever Programme, this has now ended and assured data is not available. Defra is currently reviewing how it collects and uses the seizure data recorded by its operational partners.

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, but we respect the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

The National Procurement Policy Statement underscores the Government’s commitment to increasing procurement of food that meets higher environmental standards, supporting local suppliers and upholding ethical sourcing practises, including sourcing products raised to high UK welfare standards.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) does not record Official Veterinarian or Official Auxiliary time, associated costs, or enforcement activity by slaughter method. As such, the FSA does not hold data that would enable a direct comparison between stunned and non-stunned slaughter in relation to supervision time, inspection or enforcement costs, or levels of animal welfare non-compliance.

The FSA also does not collect data on the volume of meat derived from animals slaughtered without stunning. There are currently no plans for the FSA to introduce requirements to collect this information.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has lead responsibility for animal welfare policy.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) does not record Official Veterinarian or Official Auxiliary time, associated costs, or enforcement activity by slaughter method. As such, the FSA does not hold data that would enable a direct comparison between stunned and non-stunned slaughter in relation to supervision time, inspection or enforcement costs, or levels of animal welfare non-compliance.

The FSA also does not collect data on the volume of meat derived from animals slaughtered without stunning. There are currently no plans for the FSA to introduce requirements to collect this information.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has lead responsibility for animal welfare policy.

The government sets out required minimum standards for school food in the School Food Standards, to ensure that children are served healthy and nutritious meals at school. The standards do not specify food requirements in terms of cultural or religious needs.

We encourage the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter. However, we respect the rights of religious communities to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs. Schools must comply with the School Food Standards but retain flexibility in how they meet them.