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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:<br></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:<br></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:<br></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><p> </p>
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