Who will make decisions about food safety after Brexit?
4 March 2019
The EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee asks Minister Steve Brine MP about what Brexit means for managing food safety risks.
- Parliament TV: Food safety risk management post-Brexit
- Inquiry: Food safety risk management post-Brexit
- EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee
Witnesses
Wednesday 6 March in Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster
At 10.30 am
- Steve Brine MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care
- Heather Hancock, Chair, Food Standards Agency
Areas of discussion
As an EU Member State, the UK currently benefits from EU-wide surveillance systems to identify risks to food safety and from assessments of potential food safety risks conducted by the European Food Safety Authority. Most decisions about managing food safety risks are taken at an EU level, and then implemented by all Member States.
In a 'no deal' Brexit scenario, the UK will need to have systems and resources in place to take over these surveillance, assessment and decision-making functions from 29 March 2019. The Sub-Committee will ask the Minister about how prepared the UK is for this scenario. They will also ask the Minister to clarify whether the UK will still have access to EU intelligence and assessments during any transition period, and to what extent the UK might remain part of EU-wide decision making on managing food safety risks at the end of a transition period.
Further information
Image: Parliamentary copyright