Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee

Minutes of Proceedings - 15 October 2026

Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee - 15 October 2026.pdf (147.88 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 30

 

Present:

Ciara Ferguson MLA (Chairperson)

David Brooks MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Steve Aiken MLA

Cathal Boylan MLA

Jonathan Buckley MLA

Peter Martin MLA

 

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Pádraig Delargy MLA

Eóin Tennyson MLA

 

Apologies:

None.

 

In Attendance:

Marie Austin, Clerk

Chris Dickison, Senior Assistant Clerk

Jessica Jacques, Senior Assistant Clerk

Oliver Bellew, Assistant Clerk

Lisa Chestnutt, Clerical Supervisor

Lucy O'Hagan, Clerical Officer

 

In Attendance by Video or Teleconference:

Carla Campbell, Assistant Clerk

The meeting commenced at 10.00am in public session.

 

1. Apologies

None.

 

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

 

3. Draft Minutes

Agreed:  The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2026.

 

4. Matters Arising

None.

 

5. Regulation (EU) 2026/2108 establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 - Departmental Oral Evidence

The Committee considered Regulation (EU) 2026/2108 establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013.

Eóin Tennyson MLA joined the meeting at 10.03am.

The Committee considered written answers from the Department for the Economy (DfE) and a response from the UK Government (UKG) on the replacement EU act.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward any responses received to its Citizen Space consultation on the replacement EU act to UKG for comment.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to ask HMRC to comment further on the Citizen Space consultation responses on the proposed EU act, and to provide information about the responses to HMRC's own consultation on the EU act.

The following official joined the meeting at 10.04am:

  • Warren Bell, Trade, Innovation and Priority Sectors Division: Trade - Windsor Framework, Department for the Economy

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

Pádraig Delargy MLA joined the meeting at 10.08am.

A question and answer session followed.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The official agreed to provide information on a range of issues raised during the oral evidence session.

The official left the meeting at 10.33am.

 

6. COM/2025/386 Proposal for a Regulation on the European Chemicals Agency and amending Regulations (EC) No 1907/2006, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) No 649/2012 and (EU) 2019/1021

The Committee noted an update from DfE on the provisionally agreed text of COM/2025/386 Proposal for a Regulation on the European Chemicals Agency and amending Regulations (EC) No 1907/2006, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) No 649/2012 and (EU) 2019/1021.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish the update.

 

7. 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.

 

8. Correspondence

8.1  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.

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

8.3  The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from UKG to the NISC regarding Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/322 amending and correcting Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards rules for the prevention and control of certain listed diseases; and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1073 amending and correcting Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards rules for the use of certain veterinary medicinal products for the purpose of prevention and control of certain listed diseases.

 

9. Chairperson’s Business

The Committee noted a written summary of its informal meeting with Intertrade UK on Thursday 1 October 2026.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to provide Intertrade UK and InterTradeIreland with a link to its website.

Eóin Tennyson MLA left the meeting at 10.35am.

 

10. Any Other Business

A Member referred to the pre-election period. The Clerk stated that she would highlight the matter to the Cabinet Office.

A Member referred to Agenda Item 8.2 under correspondence.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for consideration.

 

11. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The next meeting will be held on 22 October 2026 at 10.00am in Room 30.

The meeting was adjourned at 10.41am.

 

Ciara Ferguson MLA

Chairperson, Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee

22 October 2026