Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Exiting the European Union (Plant Health)

02 December 2020 · 7 other contributors

Opened by Victoria Prentis Con Banbury

BrexitAgriculture & Rural Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Victoria Prentis raised concerns about exiting the european union (plant health) in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Moves to approve the draft Plant Health (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 were laid before the House on 10 November 2020
  • The minister defends the statutory instruments, citing thorough scrutiny by DEFRA and other Government lawyers
  • Replacement oversight systems for EU functions are explained, along with plans for increased recruitment of plant health inspectors and extensive stakeholder engagement

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Victoria Prentis Con Banbury

Moves to approve the draft Plant Health (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, which were laid before this House on 10 November.

Other contributors (7)
  • Eleanor Laing Con Welsh Borders

    Moves to approve the draft Plant Health (Phytosanitary Conditions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, which were laid before this House on 10 November.

  • John Redwood

    Emphasises the importance of high standards that help domestic growers and supports more home-grown food in Britain to boost agriculture jobs.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Expresses concern for Northern Ireland's reputation and quality standards, asking if discussions have been held with the Minister of Northern Ireland to ensure high-quality standards are maintained within the UK.

  • Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth

    Highlights the importance of robust implementation during a pandemic to protect the environment, questioning the effectiveness of the legislation in ensuring protection.

  • Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge

    The instruments are lengthy and complex, requiring technical operability amendments to ensure biosecurity and trade continuity. They establish the future plant health regime for Great Britain by retaining EU legislation on phytosanitary controls but may face implementation challenges due to the transition period. Zeichner questions whether these measures adequately address potential risks and reviews, and highlights concerns over changes in risk assessment timelines, scrutiny procedures, and impact assessments.

  • Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens

    Expresses concerns about the additional restrictions, barriers, and hurdles for food and drink exporters after Brexit due to new regulations on plant imports. Cites specific concerns raised by the Horticultural Trades Association regarding logistical impossibility of implementing current proposals, unpreparedness of required IT systems, and negative impact on industry growth. Questions how these measures will support a sector reliant on £350 million-worth of plant imports.

  • Victoria Prentis

    Defends the necessity of the lengthy statutory instruments for amending retained EU legislation to reflect risks to Great Britain, emphasising thorough scrutiny and amendments by various bodies. Assures that replacement oversight systems are operational and includes plans for increased recruitment of plant health inspectors and engagement with horticultural industry stakeholders.

Government Response

Government Minister

Defends the statutory instruments, assures they are up to standard after thorough scrutiny by DEFRA and other Government lawyers. Explains replacement oversight systems for EU functions and highlights plans for increased recruitment of plant health inspectors as well as extensive engagement with stakeholders.

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