Guidance: Protected food name: Ayrshire New Potatoes/Ayrshire Earlies

The specification for Ayrshire new potatoes/Ayrshire earlies, a protected food name product.

PM meeting with President of the European Commission: 16 September 2019

The Prime Minister and President Juncker had a constructive meeting this lunchtime. The Brexit Secretary and Michel Barnier were also in attendance.

The leaders took stock of the ongoing talks between the UK’s team and Taskforce 50. The Prime Minister reconfirmed his commitment to the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement and his determination to reach a deal with the backstop removed, that UK parliamentarians could support. The Prime Minister also reiterated that he would not request an extension and would take the UK out of the EU on the 31st October.

The leaders agreed that the discussions needed to intensify and that meetings would soon take place on a daily basis. It was agreed that talks should also take place at a political level between Michel Barnier and the Brexit Secretary, and conversations would also continue between President Juncker and the Prime Minister.

Published 16 September 2019

Policy paper: Smarter rules for safer food: what we are doing

Information on the smarter rules for safer food package which will improve protection against animal disease and pests in the food chain.

Get ready for Brexit campaign launches in Hungary

The UK Government has today (Monday 16 September) launched a major information campaign urging UK nationals living in Hungary to get ready for Brexit on 31 October. It is part of a wider communications campaign effort across Europe.

UK nationals in Hungary will receive information about specific actions they need to take to keep their rights and access to services in Hungary, including around residency, healthcare, driving licences and passports.

The campaign will use multiple channels – including Facebook posts urging people to take action ahead of 31 October.

The British Embassy has already been doing a lot over recent months to inform UK nationals, including town hall information meetings with the Ambassador, Consular experts and Hungarian government officials. Our next town hall meeting will take place in Budapest on 24 September and you can register here.

Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador to Hungary, said:

Protecting the rights of UK nationals is an absolute priority as we leave the European Union. I’d urge UK nationals to visit our Living in Guide for Hungary where they can find out about the steps they need to take and get specific information about residency, healthcare, passports and driving in Hungary.

There are more than one million UK nationals living in the EU, with around 5000 living in Hungary.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

We are stepping up efforts to ensure Britons abroad are prepared for Brexit on 31 October. This campaign provides practical advice to the more than one million British people living in the EU, as well as British tourists and business travellers.

The UK Government recently announced up to £3 million in grant funding for charities and other voluntary organisations who can inform UK nationals about the need to register or apply for residency and to support them as they complete their applications.

The Government also allocated an extra £300,000 to British Embassies and Consulates across the EU to engage with ‘hard to reach’ UK nationals such as disabled people, those living in remote areas or people who might need extra help to complete any paperwork in preparation for Brexit.

This extra assistance will build on the support that British Embassies are already providing with more than 541 outreach events with UK nationals since November 2017.

The new information campaign asks UK nationals to take action to prepare for Brexit by checking the Living in Hungary Guide at gov.uk/livinginhungary and:

apply for residency
register for healthcare
check their passport is valid for travel

Foreign Office Minister begins 4-day visit to Laos, Cambodia and Thailand

Foreign & Commonwealth Office Minister Heather Wheeler began her visit today (16 September) in Vientiane and will meet Laotian Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sengphet Houngboungnuang to discuss the bilateral relationship, including trade. She will also meet Health Minister Bounkong Sihavong to discuss UK-Laos co-operation in tackling anti-microbial resistance. The Minister will visit UK funded de-mining projects that work with international and local partners to clear existing mines and educate the local population about the risk of mines in the region.

The Minister will also:

meet female national parliamentarians to discuss the work of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy’s support to the National Assembly
see how rugby has transformed the lives of young women and girls in Laos
meet with students in Vientiane to discuss the illegal wildlife trade

On Tuesday, the Minister will travel to Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh where she will meet Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, H. E. Prak Sokhonn. The Minister will also meet her counterparts with responsibility for key elements of the UK-Cambodian bilateral partnership; the Senior Minister for Mine Action, the Minister of Environment, the Minister for Education and the Minister for Women’s Affairs.

Minister Wheeler will finish her 4-day visit in Bangkok, where she will meet the new Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Dr Vijavat Isarabhakdi. They will discuss the UK-Thai relationship, collaboration on climate change and on tackling the illegal wildlife trade with the Minister for Environment. She will meet the British Council to discuss their work on education.

The Minister will discuss the role of women in politics with female Thai parliamentarians and see the important work the consular team do with Thai partners to support the victims of rape and sexual assault.

As countries vulnerable to climate change, droughts and flooding, Minister Wheeler will use her conversations in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand to emphasise co-operation on climate issues and UK leadership, including hosting COP 26 in Glasgow in 2020.

Speaking ahead of her visit to the region, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific Heather Wheeler said:

Brexit is an opportunity for the UK to think in a truly global manner. In that spirit, and as the Minister for Asia-Pacific, I want to build a stronger relationship with the countries of South East Asia.

Through this visit I will demonstrate the UK’s commitment to supporting the people of the Mekong and I look forward to discussing trade opportunities, the role of women in society and global challenges like climate change.

Speaking on the work of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in Laos, their Chief Executive Anthony Smith said:

Promoting gender equality is an important part of our work worldwide, including in Laos. That is why we are engaging with the National Assembly to help ensure new laws such as the Gender Equality Bill deliver better protection for women, in line with Laos’ international commitments.

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