Defra ‘doesn’t have enough vets’

The bill was released on a day when a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) concluded that Defra would be unable to cope in the event of Britain crashing out of the EU with no deal on Brexit.

The report warned that the complexities and volume of the work required to certify food exports could see them delayed at borders or prevented from leaving the UK.

A key finding was the fact that the department has a shortfall in the number of vets to process the increased number of export health certificates (EHCS) that would be needed in the event of no deal.

The NAO said that in such a situation Defra would need to negotiate with 154 non-eu countries to agree acceptance of UK versions of more than 1,400 European export health certificates.

The certificates are used to prove food and livestock exports comply with animal health standards and regulations – and the need for these is likely to increase if the UK leaves the EU without a trade deal.