UK Food Industry Stakeholders Write to New Prime Minister Expressing Concern about Brexit Negotiations

14 Jul 2016 --- Over 80 food industry stakeholders have signed a letter to the new prime minister Theresa May and new Brexit secretary David Davis, expressing concern that the new government might railroad existing UK food and farming standards in its bid to strike new trade deals "at any cost” post-Brexit.

While stressing that the post-Brexit landscape offers a number of opportunities for the food industry, the signatures to the letter have urged Davis not to ignore the importance of the UK food industry amid Brexit negotiations by making a series of suggestions.

These include that Davis sounds out advice from food industry experts and that public health and sustainability are central to negotiations around the the country’s exit from the EU.

The writing of the letter comes amid likely concern from the food industry about the appointment of Davis, a long-standing Eurosceptic, who was yesterday appointed by the new PM to the newly-created high-profile role of Brexit secretary.

Davis is a former Europe minister who delighted in his nickname "Monsieur Non." 

The UK food industry is likely to be wary that Davis could ruffle feathers in the EU and jeopardise existing beneficial EU relationships which the industry hopes to continue post Brexit.

Kath Dalmeny, head of Sustain, an alliance of food and farming organisations, who coordinated the letter, said: “The British public has given no mandate for a reduction in food and farming standards, a weakening of protection for nature, nor a reversal of the UK’s commitment to lifting millions of the poorest people in the world out of poverty through trade. We are seriously concerned that such vital considerations may be over-run by a drive for new trade deals at any cost.”

The letter is co-signed by over 80 food, farming, fair trade, poverty, animal welfare, wildlife, health and environmental organisations and argues that good food, farming and fishing policies must be central to any post EU Referendum strategy for the UK.

The organizations point out that better food, farming and trade policies can help to cut greenhouse gas emissions from farming and food industries by 80% by 2050, and promote healthier diets to combat heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and obesity, saving the NHS, and ultimately taxpayers millions. 

They argue that such policies can also support vibrant and diverse economy, supporting good jobs and working conditions, in the UK and overseas.

Furthermore, the UK could prioritise ethical and sustainable production methods, improved animal welfare, more farmland and marine wildlife, a healthy future for bees and other pollinators, as well as enhancing the beauty of the countryside and protecting the environment, while also providing a safe and traceable food supply.

Stanley Johnson, co-chairman, Environmentalists for Europe, said: "Brexit means Brexit. What matters now, on the food, farming, fishing and animal welfare front, is to make sure we don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. “

“We need to stick to key standards agreed throughout Europe, often as a result of a UK initiative, and we need to find ways of ensuring that, in the future, we are still able to play a leadership role in European and international food, farming, fishing and environmental negotiations." 

Professor Tim Lang from the Centre for Food Policy, City University London, said: “Brexit was largely won on the idea that the UK can ‘take back control’ but what does this mean in a country that imports nearly a third of its food? “

“How will we manage for fruit and veg pickers if we can no longer rely on the 65% of our farm workers that come from other EU countries? If we want a home-grown supply of fresh, healthy and sustainable food, then farm incomes must improve, including fair terms of trade for farmers, and better pay and conditions for farm workers, as well as some level of continued allowance for migrant and seasonal workers. Will David Davis advise the government to negotiate all that?”
 
Malcolm Clark, coordinator of the Children’s Food Campaign, an alliance of health and children’s organisations, said: “Brexit must not mean an end to policies that can reduce the diet-related conditions, such as cancers, diabetes, obesity and heart disease, that threaten to overwhelm the NHS. “

“We have already waited nearly a year for the government’s Childhood Obesity Strategy, yet decisive action is still urgently needed to decrease consumption of junk food. Since the result of the EU Referendum, we have already seen the food and soft drinks industry calling for the sugary drinks tax to be shelved. But the UK’s future outside Europe must not be allowed to result in a rise in diet-related disease.”

by John Reynolds