Item 9 is our final item, the Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021. I call on the Minister for rural affairs to move the motion. Lesley Griffiths. 

Motion NDM7901 Lesley Griffiths

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

1. Approves The Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 laid in the Table Office on 22 December 2021.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. Thank you for the opportunity to briefly give some background for today's debate on the Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021.

These regulations are made using the made affirmative procedure under powers conferred on the Welsh Ministers by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. They were laid before the Senedd on 23 December and came into force 30 December. The original Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021, approved by the Senedd early last year, changed the original date from which prior notification for imports into Wales of products of animal origin applied from 1 April 2021 to 31 July 2021. In line with the phased introduction of border controls, the requirements were again delayed twice last year from 31 July 2021 to 1 October 2021 and later until 1 January 2022. All these previous changes were made in line with corresponding amendments in the English and Scottish legislation, and were approved by the Senedd. My officials will continue to monitor the situation and work with other devolved Governments to ensure a harmonised import regime across Great Britain.

These regulations amend the 2011 regulations to remove the requirement for products of animal origin and animal by-products to be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate for third-country imports before the end of the transitional staging period. The regulations waive the need for most animal product imports from the island of Ireland to be pre-notified from 1 January 2022 until 1 July, with a few exceptions. These regulations also amend Schedule 5 to the 2011 regulations to enable enforcement powers to remain available during the extended transitional staging period other than at border control posts in respect of animals and animal products in Wales.

The regulations also amend the Meat Preparations (Amendment and Transitory Modification) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 to extend the temporary suspension of the requirement for meat preparations to be deep-frozen where they are imported into Wales from EEA member states, the Faroe Islands, Greenland or Switzerland, bringing it into line with the extended transitional staging period.

The Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee—Huw Irranca-Davies.

Thank you, Llywydd, and thank you, Minister. We considered these regulations at our meeting on 17 January and our report to the Senedd includes one merits reporting point.

As the Minister has explained already, these regulations amend the Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) Regulations 2011 and the Meat Preparations (Amendment and Transitory Modification) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 following the UK's exit from the EU.

We noted in our report—I've only got a few brief comments here—that the UK Government undertook a short consultation exercise in relation to its regulations that recognised some changes affecting Wales. Given that the UK Government was able to undertake consultation, we asked the Welsh Government to confirm why it was not itself able to undertake a similar short consultation exercise in Wales. In its response to our report, the Government then explained that it had not undertaken a public consultation here due to the urgency of the regulations but that, indeed, the UK Government had done so instead. The Government's response here in Wales went on to explain that the consultation document stated that similar changes would be brought forward in relation to the domestic legislation in Wales, and that Welsh Government officials provided specific details of Welsh stakeholders who were asked to respond to the UK Government.

We are indeed grateful to the Welsh Government for that information, the additional information provided in its response to our report. But, Minister, and this is probably a familiar reprise to you now from our committee, what we do note is that if the explanation, which was really helpful, had been included in the explanatory memorandum in the very first instance, it would have been even more helpful to assist the Senedd in its scrutiny, though as I say, Minister, we're grateful for the subsequent explanation in response to our report, and we're always grateful when Welsh Government seeks to improve the way it brings forward explanatory memoranda, too. Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. 

I've no other speakers. Does the Minister wish to respond? No, the points have been made.

So, the proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No, there are no objections, and therefore the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

All motions have therefore been agreed. There will be no voting time. That concludes our business for today. Thank you.

The meeting ended at 17:40.