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<p>We have communicated on a range of topics with local authorities, including in
a conference call on 13 August along with other Government departments. Each local
Authority has established a Brexit lead officer to liaise with Government.</p><p>
</p><p>Defra has identified areas where our exit preparations impact local authorities.
For instance Environmental Health Officers are responsible for issuing Export Health
Certificates on fish and we have discussed capacity and the requirements with them.</p><p>
</p><p>We regularly contribute to a cross-government working group which coordinates
engagement with local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Information on leaving the EU without
a withdrawal agreement relevant to a particular local authority can then be accessed
by the local authority via shared channels, such as:</p><ul><li>MHCLG’s Local government
Brexit preparedness page on GOV.UK;</li><li>MHCLG’s weekly e-bulletin to local authorities
setting out all relevant updates for the week;</li><li>Presenting information at MHCLG’s
monthly delivery board to local authority representatives;</li><li>The Food Standards
Agency’s Smarter Comms platform accessed directly by regulatory officers in local
authorities;</li><li>Cascading information via MHCLG’s network of nine regional local
authority Chief Executives;</li><li>Using MHCLG’s newly established network of Brexit
lead officers in each local authority;</li><li>Direct email messages to regulatory
leads in relevant local authorities;</li><li>Engaging with and passing information
through regulatory bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health,
the Chartered Trading Standards Institute or the Association of Port Health Authorities.</li></ul><p>
</p><p>Information on a range of Defra’s exit projects if we leave the EU without
a withdrawal agreement has been made available to local authorities through these
channels. This includes information on:</p><ul><li>Exporting fish and shellfish (Export
Health Certificates);</li><li>Importing fish and fisheries products (Catch Certificates);</li><li>Import
control systems for animals, products of animal origin and high risk food and feed;</li><li>Food
labelling changes;</li><li>The protection of habitats and species;</li><li>Waste;</li><li>Guidance
for businesses exporting goods to the EU.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Local authorities have
been invited to attend various meetings, including workshops, training events and
roadshows on topics including:</p><ul><li>Changes to environmental regulations;</li><li>Changes
to food and farming;</li><li>Changes to exports of animals and animal products;</li><li>Changes
to imports of animals and animal products;</li><li>MHCLG’s regional roadshows on how
local authorities will be affected by exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement
in Wakefield, Birmingham, London and Cambridge;</li><li>Training on catch certificates
in Wales, Inverness, Bristol and Newcastle;</li><li>Changes to trading standards regulatory
functions in Exeter;</li><li>A series of teleconferences on changes to export health
certificates;</li><li>A webinar on changes affecting border or coastal local authorities;</li><li>A
workshop on regulatory services hosted by MHCLG with input from other departments
including Defra.</li></ul><p> </p>
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