UK food and drink supply chain outlines Brexit priorities

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

They argue that trading ties with the EU must be handled with patience and care. Around four million people are employed throughout the ‘farm to fork’ food chain across the UK. Any abrupt changes towards the trading relationship would have enormous consequences for the industry, its employees and for the choice and availability of food in the UK.

The signatories state that feeding people well is a matter of national security and vital to the success of the UK economy. Since the vote to leave the European Union, they have worked with the government to explain the policy outcomes needed in order to continue providing safe, affordable and nutritious food and drink to UK consumers.

The signatories have agreed upon 10 priorities for the negotiations:

1. Avoid any ‘cliff edge’ by securing an adequate interim and transitional period to help businesses prepare for a new relationship with the EU.

2. Quickly negotiate the right to remain for the valued EU workforce and their families.

3. Recognise the unique nature of our relationship with Ireland by agreeing a series of special solutions on workforce, regulation and borders.

4. 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.

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

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

7. Support businesses’ ambition for an industrial strategy sector deal to harness our industry’s growth potential and improve productivity.

8. Turbocharge exports support to help smaller food and drink firms take advantage of new opportunities so that they can grow their share of global trade.

9. 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.

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