The National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) is the Government’s principal tool for identifying and assessing the most serious malicious and non-malicious risks facing the United Kingdom and its interests overseas.

Whilst construction supply is not currently included as a discrete risk, critical supply chain disruption is considered from a range of causes across the NSRA.

Both the NSRA and the publicly available version, the National Risk Register (NRR), are kept under continual review to reflect the changing risk landscape. During every update, policy makers are encouraged to consider the potential implications of their risk across a range of sectors.

The National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) is the Government’s principal tool for identifying and assessing the most serious malicious and non-malicious risks facing the United Kingdom and its interests overseas.

Whilst construction supply is not currently included as a discrete risk, critical supply chain disruption is considered from a range of causes across the NSRA.

Both the NSRA and the publicly available version, the National Risk Register (NRR), are kept under continual review to reflect the changing risk landscape. During every update, policy makers are encouraged to consider the potential implications of their risk across a range of sectors.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on a range of issues, including international trade.

The Department has had wide ranging discussions with animal welfare organisations and other stakeholders on laying hen cage reform, including conversations relating to egg imports.

As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.

Seed import applications do not capture data on how these imports are sourced.

This is the volume (kgs) of notifiable seed from non-EU countries declared to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) based on risk categorisation:

• 2025: 3,800,221.64
• 2024: 3,702,498.58
• 2023: 4,464,313.20
• 2022: 6,478,940.93
• 2021: 6,292,767.16
• 2020: 4,173,602.86

There are known data quality issues with the weights on the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) notification. For example, the commodity net weight on the application may not be the total weight of the consignment but could be the weight per package.

The information provided is a true reflection of the information which APHA has access to. APHA relies on the information that is entered on the systems by a third party. APHA completes checks on accuracy as part of identity checks.

This is the volume (kgs) of notifiable seed from EU countries declared to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) based on risk categorisation:

• 2025: 18,899,370.21
• 2024: 9,235,173.43
• 2023: 10,551,652.02
• 2022: 16,197,085.56
• 2021: 7,905,863.80
• 2020: TBC

There are known data quality issues with the weights on the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) notification. For example, the commodity net weight on the application may not be the total weight of the consignment but could be the weight per package.

The information provided is a true reflection of the information which APHA has access to. APHA relies on the information that is entered on the systems by a third party. APHA completes checks on accuracy as part of identity checks.

This Government is committed to delivering the most ambitious animal welfare programme in a generation as set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy. The UK does not permit fur farming or the production of foie gras using force feeding, which the Government has made clear raises serious animal welfare concerns.

Defra is bringing together a working group on fur, with involvement from both industry experts and those who support restrictions on the trade in fur, to explore concerns and the different ways in which they could be addressed.

Under the Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine, tariffs on all goods are temporarily removed until March 2029, except for poultry and eggs, where the liberalisation is due to end on 31 March 2028.

The Government has consistently raised the importance of animal welfare standards with the Ukrainian Government, which has assured that all Ukrainian companies currently exporting animal products to the UK fully comply with existing EU animal welfare requirements, including the ban on battery cages for laying hens as set out in Directive 1999/74/EC.

Ukraine is making steps to improve its animal welfare standards. As of 1 January 2026, new welfare standards for livestock were introduced in Ukraine, including on the implementation of a ban on battery cages, and improving housing and treatment for livestock.

The UK will continue to engage with Ukraine on the implementation of improvements to production standards.

I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 18 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend for PQ UIN 120331.

I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 18 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend for PQ UIN 120331.

The National Procurement Policy Statement, published in February, underscores the Government's commitment to increasing the procurement of food that meets higher environmental standards, supporting local suppliers and upholding ethical sourcing practises across public sector contracts. This includes sourcing products from all farmed animals which have been raised to high UK welfare standards as defined in current animal welfare legislation.

As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at its disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.

I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 18 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend for PQ UIN 120331.

I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 18 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend for PQ UIN 120331.

Supply of nitrogen fertiliser to the UK is competitive and the proportion that is met by domestic production varies from year to year. Current fertiliser regulations are outdated and don’t support the marketing of new and innovative products. We are consulting on new regulations to strengthen future fertiliser supply, protect the environment, and diversify supply for farmers. Defra has also committed £120 million in funding in 2026 to trial new technologies and drive innovation in the agriculture sector including for efficient nutrient management.

All agri-food products must comply with our sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. While poultry imports from China to the UK are permitted they are subject to stricter, updated certification requirements as of December 2024, requiring approved premises.

The UK Food Security Report, published by Defra every three years and last published in 2024, sets out an analysis of statistics relating to food security, serving as an evidence base to inform government policy and public understanding. It tracks trends in domestic production, import reliance, inflation, and supply chain shocks.

The UK has a resilient food system, producing around 65% of all food consumed here. UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production and ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply.

In most scenarios, the UK’s ability to access supply from diverse sources is vital to its resilience.

I refer the Hon. Member to the reply given to Ruth Jones on 17 March 2026 to PQ UIN 119441.

Defra publishes quarterly data on poultry meat production, trade and supplies on GOV.UK (Latest cattle, sheep and pig slaughter statistics - GOV.UK). Data is not available specifically for imports and supply of chicken meat. Annual data on total poultry meat imports from China as a proportion of total UK poultry meat supplies is provided in the table below.

Table 1: Total poultry meat imports from China as a proportion of total UK poultry meat supplies, thousand tonnes dressed carcase weight equivalent (th tonnes dcw)

Table Notes:

1) Imports from China have been defined on a Country of dispatch basis

2) Data for 2025 is provisional

The Government has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns. Foie gras production using force feeding has been banned in the UK for nearly 20 years as it is not compatible with our animal welfare legislation.

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards an SPS Agreement. Negotiations with the EU on the SPS Agreement are underway and Defra cannot comment on these discussions while they are ongoing. However, this Government is clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards.