Brexit: Trade bodies join forces to outline key priorities

21 Jul 2017 --- At the end of the second round of Brexit talks, there hasn’t been too much in the way of clarification with several stumbling blocks still on the table. As European Union negotiator Michel Barnier and British politician David Davis have faced each other over several days this week, there is still no real progress being made with the next round of discussions planned for the fall. 

A multitude of topics - trade, immigration, the “divorce” settlement, border controls, tariffs, the rights of EU citizens - are still unclear - and during this week several food industry leaders have joined forces to once again voice their concerns about avoiding a “cliff-edge” Brexit scenario, while calling for the UK’s food and drink supply priorities to be taken into consideration. 

In a joint letter sent to MPs, signatories from 26 representative bodies from across the UK food and drink supply chain have agreed 10 key priorities for the negotiations with the EU to protect the UK's food security and the food and farming sector. 

They includes people like Ian Wright CBE, Director General of Food and Drink Federation; Nick Allen, Chief Executive of the British Meat Processors Association; Michael Bell, Executive Director of Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association; Nick Bennett, Chair Council for Responsible Nutrition UK; James Bielby Chief Executive Federation of Wholesale Distributors, Simon Cripps, Chairman Seasoning & Spice Association and many more. 

The joint letter explains how Britain’s trading ties with the EU are deeply interwoven and any abrupt change would have enormous consequences for the food and drink industry, its employees and for the choice and availability of food in the UK. 

The signatories explain how they are writing on behalf of many thousands of business across the UK responsible for producing packaging, distributing, serving and selling food and drink – Food and drink is the UK's largest manufacturing sector and the largest employer in the service sector.

Around four million people throughout the 'farm to fork' food chain are employed running through every constituency across the UK.
Feeding people well is a matter of national security and vital to the success of the UK economy, says the group, and since the vote to leave the European Union, these organizations and trade groups have been working with the British government to explain the policy outcomes needed in order to continue providing safe, affordable and nutritious food and drink to UK consumers.

“UK food and farming is world leading. The products, services and brands we export around the globe showcase our reputation for quality and provenance. The opportunities for our industry are huge. But uncertainty around the shape of our exit from the EU, the future of our domestic farming and fisheries production, and a looming skills and workforce shortage threaten the viability of our businesses,” says the UK Food and Drink Federation. 

“Our trading ties with the EU are deeply interwoven, in respect of both imports and exports. So too are the regulatory frameworks in which we operate. These complex relationships must be handled with patience and care. Abrupt change would have enormous consequences for our industry, its employees and for the choice and availability of food in this country.”

Coming together in the letter, the representatives from the diverse industries have agreed 10 priorities for the negotiations, claiming that by working in partnership, the UK’s food security can be protected and jobs and growth can thrive. 

They include;
- Avoid any 'cliff edge' by securing an adequate interim and transitional period to help us prepare for a new relationship with the EU;

- Quickly negotiate the right to remain for the valued EU workforce and their families;

- Recognize the unique nature of the UK’s relationship with Ireland by agreeing a series of special solutions on workforce, regulation and borders;

- Deliver continued zero-tariff and frictionless trade across borders in both directions to give consumers the choice they expect, at a price they can afford;

- Maintain consumer confidence in UK food safety and authenticity through a stable, equivalent regulatory framework to ensure seamless trade;

- Work with us to develop home-grown talent and consult us fully over the needs of industry ahead of any new migration scheme;

- Support the ambition for an industrial strategy sector deal, to harness our industry's growth potential and improve productivity;

- Turbocharge exports support to help smaller food and drink firms take advantage of new opportunities so that we can grow our share of global trade;

- Provide a competitive supply base and ensure reforms to UK farm support – and to fisheries management – take full account of the needs of the rural and coastal communities, planning and investment horizons;

- Maintain the UK as the destination of choice for multinational food and drink firms and encourage inward investment to benefit our local communities.

Earlier this week FoodIngredientsFirst reported how, according to a new briefing paper published by the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex, Britain is unprepared for the most complex ever change to its food system, which will be required before Brexit.

The paper warns how severe problems with the UK food system are likely unless issues are addressed, while the retail industry is predicting price rises of up to 22 per cent in imported goods, if Britain opts for a “hard Brexit”.

Meanwhile, a FoodIngredientsFirst special report, published in early July, also goes through some of the key Brexit concerns for industry, including labor shortages, tariffs and food price hikes. You can read the report in full here. 

by Gaynor Selby