Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Members of the Senedd will wish to be aware that I have given consent to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to exercise a subordinate legislation-making power in a devolved area in relation to Wales.
The above titled Statutory Instrument (SI) was laid before the UK Parliament by the Secretary of State on 28 February 2023 in exercise of powers conferred by regulations 6, 7 and 9 of the Trade in Animals and Animal Products (Legislative Functions) and Veterinary Surgeons (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
These Regulations correct errors in the lists of animals and animal products so that Switzerland and Iceland are legally approved to export to Great Britain. The errors meant that Switzerland and Iceland lacked the required legal basis to export certain commodities to Wales for which they should be approved. These errors were rectified to ensure that trade from Switzerland and Iceland could continue without disruption. The Regulations also removed a transit approval for Russia that had been redundant since the end of the Transition Period. None of these corrections were changes in policy but were required to maintain the status quo.
Impact the instrument may have on the Senedd’s legislative competence and/or the Welsh Ministers’ executive competence:
The Regulations do not diminish or undermine the powers of Welsh Ministers in any way, and they do not create, amend or remove any functions conferred on the Welsh Ministers.
I would like to reassure the Senedd it is normally the policy of the Welsh Government to legislate for Wales in matters of devolved competence. However, in certain circumstances there are benefits in working collaboratively with the UK Government where there is a clear rationale for doing so. On this occasion, I have given my consent to these Regulations for reasons of efficiency and expediency in future policy change and adherence to international obligations, cross-government coordination and consistency.
The Regulations were laid before the UK Parliament on 28 February 2023 and come into force on 21 March 2023.