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.