Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee room 5 - Tŷ Hywel

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Thursday, 19 June 2025

Meeting time: 09.33 - 11.45
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15126


Hybrid

------

Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Andrew RT Davies MS (Chair)

Hannah Blythyn MS

Hefin David MS

Luke Fletcher MS

Samuel Kurtz MS

Jenny Rathbone MS

Witnesses:

David Harries, Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Cymru

Huw Thomas, Puffin Produce

Committee Staff:

Robert Donovan (Clerk)

Rachael Davies (Second Clerk)

Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk)

Elfyn Henderson (Researcher)

Sara Moran (Researcher)

Thomas Morris (Researcher)

Madelaine Phillips (Researcher)

Sian Thomas (Researcher)

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

1.1     The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2     Hannah Blythyn MS gave notice in advance she would join the meeting part way through item 2.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Food Processing: panel 1

2.1     The Committee heard evidence from Huw Thomas (Puffin Produce and Pembrokeshire Creamery) and David Harries (Food and Drink Federation Cymru).

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Papers to note

3.1     The Committee noted the papers.

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1   Economy Trade and Rural Affairs Committee report: AI and the Welsh Economy

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2   Follow-up to 15 May Committee meeting: Glastir and National Minimum Standards

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3   The Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.4   Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021

</AI7>

<AI8>

3.5   Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27: Engagement - Stakeholder Event

</AI8>

<AI9>

3.6   Soil Health in Agriculture

</AI9>

<AI10>

3.7   Anonymous Committee Evidence

</AI10>

<AI11>

3.8   Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement: Intergovernmental Relations Annual Report

</AI11>

<AI12>

3.9   Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement: Council of the Nations and Regions Meeting and other Intergovernmental Meetings

</AI12>

<AI13>

3.10 Marking of Retail Goods Regulations 2025

</AI13>

<AI14>

3.11 Inter-Ministerial Group on UK-EU Relations

</AI14>

<AI15>

4       Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

4.1     The Committee agreed the motion to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting.

</AI15>

<AI16>

5       Food Processing: consideration of evidence

5.1     The Committee discussed the evidence heard under item 2.

</AI16>

<AI17>

6       Trade update

6.1     The Committee discussed the trade update paper.

</AI17>

<AI18>

7       Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA): consideration of draft chapter

7.1     The Committee reviewed and considered the draft report chapter, and agreed the recommendations in principle following some drafting changes.

</AI18>

<AI19>

8       Apprenticeship Pathways: consideration of draft report

8.1     The Committee agreed the draft report, and agreed to its publication following minor drafting amendments.

</AI19>

<TRAILER_SECTION>

</TRAILER_SECTION>

<LAYOUT_SECTION>

1.          FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.          FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

</HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_SUMMARY

</COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

<SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.1          FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

<TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.2          FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>