Seòmar agus comataidhean

If there was to be further funding for the energy efficiency of homes, it would probably not fall to my portfolio. However, I am happy to follow that up with my Government colleagues and ask them to write to you with further information.

We are looking at the strategic objectives in the islands plan and ensuring that the annual reports that we produce contain actions against each of them. We need to ensure that we are dealing with the issues that are of the greatest importance to our island communities and tackling the problems that they face. Looking at some of these issues will, no doubt, form part of that.

You referred to the increase in funding that we have received from the UK Government, but, as I outlined in one of my previous responses, that equates to a 4.8 per cent cut since 2021. The inflationary pressures that we have seen—I think that inflation hit 11.1 per cent in October—mean that whatever increase we have had will always be worth less. When we look at the EU replacement funding—

First of all, thank you for raising the monitor farm programme, which I neglected to mention in my response. I was really excited to announce that initiative. Funding of £1.4 million will be provided for the programme over the next few years. We know that the programme works in terms of engagement, and that it encourages the sharing of knowledge and expertise. Undertaking a second round of the programme is really important.

Of course, we have done that with agri-tourism as well. Again, it is really important to see that really exciting part of the sector continue to grow and develop.

We continue to invest through schemes. We are funding the monitor farm programme through the knowledge transfer and innovation fund. We are investing £36 million in the agri-environment climate scheme over the coming year. I have mentioned other schemes, too.

You mentioned the Nature Friendly Farming Network, with which I have had quite a lot of engagement. It is a fantastic network. I have regular engagement with our key stakeholders. We also have an agriculture, biodiversity and climate change network, which we are encouraging people to get involved with, to share the knowledge and expertise that we have.

In my opening statement, I said that one of the priorities is the transformation to net zero and becoming a net zero economy. We know that we have to fund that and that we need to help with that transition where we can. That is why we have provided funding across those various schemes—to continue with that work, to invest in it, to drive the change that we want to see and, ultimately, to deliver on our vision for agriculture, too.

What do you mean? Do you mean potentially extending that or bringing it forward? Obviously, we would want to see what impact there has been. We will monitor that after 31 December to see how the approach has worked and whether it has had that impact.

As far as I am aware, this is the first time that we have introduced the regulations. My officials are nodding. I believe that this is the first time that we have done that. Given the nature of AI and what we have seen this year, the situation is unprecedented; we have never seen an outbreak like it. That is why we have had to introduce the regulations. There are unique circumstances.

They would not be able to be sold past that point. That is what we set out in the regulations. They can be sold only until 31 December.

That option is still open. However, we are adding the additional option that they can be sold as defrosted so that there is not an impact on retailers and their ability to store and then sell those products.

I thank the committee for inviting me to speak about the regulations, which allow the marketing of certain poultry meat in defrosted condition for a temporary period between 28 November to 31 December.

Regulation 1308/2013—the single common market organisation, or CMO, regulation—makes provision about poultry meat marketing standards. In particular, it stipulates that

“Poultrymeat and poultrymeat preparations shall be marketed in”

only

“fresh ... frozen”

or

“quick-frozen”

condition, and part 1 of schedule 1 to the Poultrymeat (Scotland) Regulations 2011 states that contravention of that requirement is an offence.

Due to the current threat from avian influenza, some retailers, as well as the larger turkey processors—which, together, account for about 90 per cent of poultry meat production—contacted the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to request temporary approval for poultry meat to be frozen and then sold as a defrosted product. The United Kingdom and Welsh Governments have indicated that that will be permitted during the period from 28 November to 31 December.

The Scottish Government sought the views of the Scottish industry, and we wish to address the threat of market disturbance to the poultry meat sector by permitting that in Scotland, too. The instrument therefore temporarily amends the single CMO regulation and the Poultrymeat (Scotland) Regulations 2011 to allow certain poultry meat to be marketed as defrosted. In Scotland, that will not only safeguard domestic supply; it will be of assistance to the industry in mitigating potential loss of income due to any large AI outbreak.

It is important to note that the change does not represent a food safety risk. Under the food information to consumers regulation, any defrosted poultry meat must comply with the labelling regulations, which require that

“the name of the food shall be accompanied by the designation ‘defrosted’”

on the label.

Of course, the marketing of poultry meat as defrosted is not mandatory, as poultry meat can still be marketed as fresh, frozen or quick-frozen during the period. However, those in the industry will be given the option to sell defrosted poultry meat if they so wish.

A full public consultation has not taken place due to the urgent need to temporarily amend the legislation. However, we contacted those in the industry to inform them of the proposal, and we invited comments about it. We received one positive comment and no negative comments. We have also liaised with Food Standards Scotland, which has informed enforcement authorities on behalf of the Scottish Government.

I hope that the information that I have provided to the committee is helpful in setting out the rationale for the instrument. I am happy to take any questions that committee members might have.

I will ask my officials whether we have up-to-date information on that.

We have had discussions with Food Standards Scotland to ensure that no public health risk would be associated with the approach. Generally, the advice would be to follow what is on the label. The labelling element is critically important in making things clear. The advice would be to prepare poultry in line with what is set out on the label.

The commercial freezing and defrosting process is different from what people would do at home, and it is important that people follow the label instructions. Generally, if a product has been defrosted, it would be recommended that it is stored and chilled before it is prepared rather than refrozen.

The advice is to follow the instructions on the label. That is why it is really important to show clearly that the poultry has been defrosted.