Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee

Minutes of proceedings - 19 March 2026

Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee - Minutes of Proceedings - 19 March 2026.pdf (161.1 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 30

 

Present:

Ciara Ferguson MLA (Chairperson)

David Brooks MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Steve Aiken MLA

Peter Martin MLA

Kate Nicholl MLA

 

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Pádraig Delargy MLA

 

Apologies:

Cathal Boylan MLA

Eóin Tennyson MLA

 

In Attendance:       

Marie Austin, Clerk

Chris Dickison, Senior Assistant Clerk

Jessica Jacques, Senior Assistant Clerk

Sean McCann, Assistant Clerk

Lisa Chestnutt, Clerical Supervisor

Damien Brown, Clerical Officer

 

In Attendance by Video or Teleconference:

Oliver Bellew, Assistant Clerk

Carla Campbell, Clerical Supervisor

Shelley Garner, Clerical Officer

 

The meeting commenced at 10.04amin open session.

 

1. Apologies

As above.

 

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

 

3. Draft Minutes

Agreed:  The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2026.

 

4. Matters Arising

None.

 

5. Regulation (EU) 2026/405 on detergents and surfactants, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 – Departmental Oral Evidence

The Committee considered Regulation (EU) 2026/405 on detergents and surfactants, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004.

The following officials joined the meeting at 10.07am:

  • Colin Armstrong, Deputy Director, Water and Marine Policy and Legislation, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
  • Adele Willis, Head of Water Policy Branch, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
  • Donna Acheson, Water Policy Advisor, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs  

The officials gave oral evidence on the published replacement EU act.

A question and answer session followed.

During the evidence session, officials agreed to provide the Committee with further trade data and statistics in relation to the published replacement EU act.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the UK Government to highlight that the limited information available from HMRC on internal UK trade flows can make it difficult for the Committee to assess the potential impact of replacement EU acts, and request information on the level/detail of trade data that it can expect to receive.

The officials left the meeting at 10.27am.

 

6. Committee Work Planning

The Committee noted an update on all the proposed EU acts which it is monitoring and gathering evidence on, and on others which had been notified.

 

7. Correspondence

7.1 The Committee noted a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the provision of evidence on EU acts which deal with reserved matters.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish the response.

 

7.2 The Committee noted an update from RaISe on COM/2023/192 Proposal for a Directive on the Union code relating to medicinal products for human use, and repealing Directive 2001/83/EC and Directive 2009/35/EC, and COM/2023/193 Proposal for a Regulation laying down Union procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human use and establishing rules governing the European Medicines Agency, amending Regulation (EC) No 1394/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 and Regulation (EC) No 1901/2006.

 

7.3 The Committee noted an update from RaISe on COM/2024/577 Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2021/2115 and (EU) 2021/2116 as regards the strengthening of the position of farmers in the food supply chain.

 

7.4 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee to the UK Government regarding Regulation (EU) 2025/2650 amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 as regards certain obligations of operators and traders.

 

7.5 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the UK Government to the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee regarding COM/2025/553 Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards the school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme (‘EU school scheme’), sectoral interventions, the creation of a protein sector, requirements for hemp, the possibility for marketing standards for cheese, protein crops and meat, application of additional import duties, rules on the availability of supplies in time of emergencies and severe crisis and securities.

 

7.6 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee to the UK Government regarding a Commission Delegated Regulation as regards the assignment of Unique Device Identifiers for spectacle frames, spectacle lenses, and ready-to-wear reading spectacles.

 

7.7 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee to the UK Government regarding COM 2025/836 Proposal amending Regulations (EU) 2024/1689 and (EU) 2018/1139 as regards the simplification of the implementation of harmonised rules on artificial intelligence.

 

7.8 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee to the UK Government regarding the addition to the Windsor Framework of Regulation (EU) 2025/14 on the approval and market surveillance of non-road mobile machinery circulating on public roads and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020.

 

7.9 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee to the UK Government regarding Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2052 laying down ecodesign requirements for external power supplies, wireless chargers, wireless charging pads, battery chargers for portable batteries of general use and USB Type-C cables, pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1782.

 

8. Chairperson’s Business

None.

 

9. Any Other Business

A Member highlighted recent comments made by UK Government Ministers which indicated a move towards closer alignment with European Union (EU) regulation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the UK Government to ask that it be kept informed of any developments in relation to the wider concept of alignment with the EU.

 

10. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The next meeting will be held on 26 March 2026 at 10am in Room 30.

The meeting was adjourned at 10.35am.

 

Ciara Ferguson MLA

Chairperson, Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee

26 March 2026