AQW 586/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban the import of foie gras.
Asked by John Blair MLA on 26 May 2022
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 26 May 2022
- Answer due by
- 14 June 2022
- Answered
- 7 July 202242 days after tabling
- Priority question
- No
Answer
While the production of Foie Gras has been illegal in both the UK and the Republic of Ireland for many years it is not currently illegal to import it into the UK.
The import of foie Gras cannot be banned in Northern Ireland as under the terms of the EU Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol, NI must legally adhere to the Official Controls Regulation 2017/625 (OCR). Without the EU introducing measures to ban imports of foie gras the product could still enter Northern Ireland legally.