Committee publication · Special Report · 19 November 2025 · HC 1496
4th Special Report – UK-EU trade: towards a resilient border strategy (Government Response)
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Animal and plant health
Summary
This is the UK Government's response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's September 2025 report on UK-EU trade and border biosecurity strategy. The Government partially accepts most of the 13 recommendations, committing to improved data analysis and transparency where operationally feasible, while defending current border controls and rejecting proposals to reinstate Place of Destination inspections. It emphasises ongoing EU-UK SPS Agreement negotiations and the risk-based Border Target Operating Model.
Key findings
- Government partially accepts recommendation for published quarterly inspection rates, citing concerns that disclosure could encourage trade diversion to ports with lower inspection numbers, but commits to improving data collection and analysis.
- Government rejects recommendation to adopt hybrid inspection model combining BCP and Place of Destination approaches, stating PoD lacked standardised infrastructure, quarantine controls, and customs supervision.
- Government confirms dedicated digital team in place for real-time IPAFFS updates but cannot commit to timeline for integration with EU TRACES NT system until formal SPS negotiations begin (expected autumn 2025).
- Government partially accepts data sharing on IPAFFS, citing GDPR implications and commercial sensitivity concerns, and rejects wider local authority access to system.
- Government acknowledges Committee concerns on Sevington BCP costs and welfare facilities; confirms driver satisfaction at 88.2% (4-5 star ratings) and average dwell time of 3 hours 17 minutes excluding mandatory breaks.
Government position
Partially accepts majority of recommendations. Fully accepts commitments on timelines and communication during BTOM transition and welfare improvements at Sevington. Partially accepts on inspection rate publication (data collection yes, quarterly publication uncertain pending feasibility assessment), digital systems integration (maintain IPAFFS but timing dependent on EU negotiations), and Sevington BCP future (DfT-led cross-government project underway but no commitments until SPS negotiations conclude). Rejects Place of Destination inspection model reinstatement, citing biosecurity and legislative standards; rejects wider IPAFFS access to local authorities due to GDPR and commercial sensitivity. Defers Single Trade Window analysis to lead department (not Defra). Emphasises risk-based regime effectiveness and Food Standards Agency's independent assessment that GB import controls since 2024 improved biosecurity risk management.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Department for Transport (DfT), His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Ashford Port Health Authority, UK-EU Leaders
Notable line
“There is a need to balance transparency with commercial sensitivity and operational confidentiality.”
Key Quotes
“We intend to do further work to improve our use of existing data and consider how it can be articulated publicly to improve public confidence in the regime.”
“The Government therefore partially accepts this recommendation in that understanding the rate of checks performed and the reasoning behind the variance is a key consideration of managing an effective border.”
“PoDs lacked standardised infrastructure and quarantine controls, increasing the risk of pest escape and contamination.”
“… a dedicated digital team is in place to support the continuous operation and initiate real-time updating of IPAFFS, ensuring the system can be maintained and amended at any time, throughout the year.”
“Defra published estimated Sevington BCP operating costs for financial year 2024/25 in February 2025. 1 Actual operating costs for this period will be published following the conclusion of the first annual review of the Common User Charge …”
“We agree with the committee that it is vital to ensure timelines for decision making and delivery are communicated throughout the transition from the BTOM to the UK-EU SPS Agreement in order that businesses …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗