AQW 26907/17-22

Mr Jim Allister KC
Traditional Unionist Voice
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 06/12/2021
Answered On Date: 12/01/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) why Part 5 of Schedule 7 of The Agriculture Act 2020 has not been commenced; and (ii) when it is planned to do so.

Answer:

Part 5 of Schedule 7 to The Agriculture Act 2020 provides for consequential amendments to retained EU Common Market Organisation (CMO) law on marketing standards and carcass classification, in respect of Northern Ireland (NI).

Under the UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement, including Annex 2 of the NI Protocol, EU CMO law on marketing standards, as it applies in the EU, is directly applicable here. Any plans to amend retained EU law on marketing standards in respect of NI would depend on the outcome of the current UK/EU negotiations on the Protocol.

In relation to carcass classification, retained EU law on carcass classification, as amended by UK Statutory Instruments, is applicable to, and operable in NI. Further amendments to retained EU law would be subject to future policy and legislative developments, including the outcome of the current DAERA consultation on mandatory sheep carcase classification which closes on 16 January 2022. Therefore, it would be premature to commence those provisions.

DAERA has no plans to commence the consequential amendments in Part 5 Schedule 7 to The Agriculture Act 2020 at this time.