Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason sealed refrigerated vehicles containing food for cruise ships sailing from UK ports are included in the Border Target Operating Model regime; if he will re-examine submissions made to the consultation on the provisional operating model in 2023 about this category of transit; and if he will make it his policy to exclude from the operating model sealed ships' stores that are in transit and not destined for use in the UK.  [12884]

[Due for Answer on 8 February. Answered on 15 February.]

ANSWER

The Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries (Mark Spencer): In response to stakeholder feedback on the draft Border Target Operating Model, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls. Delaying the introduction of the SPS controls by three months has provided stakeholders additional requested time to prepare for the model. It also has the added benefit of bringing the implementation of controls closer to the introduction of further benefits to industry through the upcoming UK Single Trade Window. Movements of SPS animal origin goods that enter Great Britain for the purposes of supplying a ship due to leave from a different port to the one of entry follow the requirements for transit movements, with a reduced burden compared with imports for placing on the GB market. Unlike health certificates for medium risk products being imported into GB, public health attestations are not required for transit health certificates. This means they do not have to meet the same regulatory requirements as goods that are imported into GB, and it is therefore crucial that SPS controls are introduced on these products to prevent them from entering the GB internal market. Identity checks will be performed on medium risk goods for the purpose of supplying a ship at the same percentage as both identity and physical checks would be performed on an import of a medium risk good.