Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 January 2026
Correspondence from Baroness Hayman, Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animals, regarding Defra’s attitude tracker and the predicted timelines for Veterinary Surgeons Act reform (following evidence session on 9 December), dated January 2026
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Animal and plant health
Summary
Baroness Hayman responds to questions from the EFRA Committee following December 2025 evidence session. She clarifies Defra's internal attitude tracker (2,079-sample survey measuring public understanding of post-Brexit import rules), confirms the CMA will publish its veterinary services report in Spring 2026 with remedies by end-2026, and outlines the timeline for Veterinary Surgeons Act reform (Bill slot bid for third parliamentary session, with legislation taking up to a year through both Houses).
Key findings
- Defra's attitude tracker is an internal online survey of 2,079 nationally representative UK adults, used to inform and evaluate communications strategy.
- Awareness that meat and dairy cannot be brought back from Europe remains low: 6% (meat) and 8% (dairy) in August 2025, stable through November 2025.
- CMA final report on veterinary services for household pets expected Spring 2026, with remedies announced and in force by end-2026, following 3–6 month implementation lead times.
- Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 replacement will require bidding for Bill slot in third parliamentary session; legislation can take up to one year through both Houses, followed by secondary legislation.
- CMA remedies will serve as temporary measures in key areas whilst complete VSA overhaul is being developed.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Alastair Carmichael MP, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Defra, Competition and Markets Authority, UK REACH
Notable line
“CMA remedies would form a stopgap in certain important areas while we work on a complete overhaul of the VSA.”
Key Quotes
“The attitude tracker is a survey for internal use only, designed to inform and evaluate communications.”
“The proportion of respondents that thought they could bring back meat and dairy products was already low in August 2025 (6% for meat; 8% for dairy products) and stayed at a similar level in November”
“The Department expects that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will publish its final report on veterinary services for household pets in Spring”
“We are aiming to put in a bid for a Bill slot in the third session of this Parliament.”
“Under UK REACH, testing on vertebrate animals shall only be taken as a last resort or exceptional circumstance , and guidance is available to UK REACH registrants to minimise animal testing.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗