5. What legal representation has the Counsel General made on behalf of the Welsh Government in relation to the announcement by the European Union that it would make it illegal for animal products to be sold from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and the EU? OQ55547

I am not aware that the European Union has made any such announcement. However, the issue of listing the UK for EU food imports demonstrates just how important the negotiations with the European Union are to Wales. The UK Government internal market Bill jeopardises those talks, which is extremely irresponsible and poses a real risk to Wales.   

I'm sorry, I must disagree with you on that. The prospect of British animals and products not being added to EU sanitary and phytosanitary lists for non-EU countries is causing some alarm. For example, 37,400 tonnes of sheep meat was exported to France, and 40,600 tonnes of beef to Ireland last year. Now, according to Nick von Westenholz of the National Farmers Union, listing should be a straightforward technical matter. Similarly, the chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association has observed that the bigger question is when third country status will be granted. Fortunately, the UK Government will be laying secondary legislation next month to clarify these listing procedures, and have commented: 'We are operating the same rules and will be at the end of the transition period. Nonetheless, there is benefit to taking precautions.' So have you had to amend preparations for the end of the transition period in light of this threat, and what detail can you provide as to the steps the Welsh Government will take should Wales not be able to sell animal products to the EU?

Well, there's a range of threats that the Welsh Government are unfortunately in the position of having to prepare for as a consequence of the conduct of negotiations between the UK and the European Union. I've listed on many occasions the damage that the current trajectory will cause to Welsh food exporters, and I'm glad to hear her list in her question the risks that are very real to those farmers and food producers right across Wales. She also said in her question that this is a straightforward technical matter. And I agree with that. I don't think there has been any statement on the part of the EU that this will not happen. But there is an understandable need to be clear about what standards the UK Government proposes to put in place. I'm pleased to hear that the UK Government is keen to bring those forward, not least because, in the current circumstances, its reassurances about high standards in future can surely not be taken at face value.