Parliament must vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the EU, the High Court has ruled.
This means the government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - beginning formal exit negotiations with the EU - on its own.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales is calling for urgent clarity on Brexit following the High Court ruling.
The decision by the High Court means that the government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to begin formal exit negotiations with the EU on its own, which the Union says adds further to the confusion already surrounding Brexit planning.
FUW President Glyn Roberts said: "We need clarity. This decision has introduced more instability at a time when we can really do without it.
"The Brexit planning process has occupied us for many months now and we welcomed the Prime Minister’s recent announcement about a timeline for Article 50 initiation.
"To throw that timeline away now is not in the least bit helpful. And of course it may have huge implications, not just on the timing of Brexit but possibly on the terms of Brexit.”
'Best possible deal for agri-food sector'
Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament on Wednesday that the government will be doing everything possible to get the best deal for the farming sector once the country leaves the EU.
"We're very conscious of the importance of the food and agricultural sector across the United Kingdom but particularly of that sector to Northern Ireland and we will be doing everything we can ... to ensure we get the best deal possible for the agri-food sector," she told parliament at Prime Minister's Questions.
But the UK's four farming unions have reiterated that it is essential for the sector to maintain 'full, unfettered' access to the single market while having continued access to a 'flexible, competent and reliable' workforce.
In a joint statement, the four Presidents said: “UK agriculture supplies the building blocks to the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, food and drink.
“Worth £108bn and employing 3.9m people spread across every parliamentary constituency, the industry is bigger than the automotive and aerospace sectors combined.
“In common with other sectors of the economy, British farmers and food producers need the government to be acutely aware of what’s at stake for this vitally important industry and the UK economy as a whole."
Could Brexit be stopped?
According to the Lord Chief Justice, the Prime Minister cannot trigger Article 50 herself, but can only be done with parliamentary approval.
A huge majority of MPs in Parliament are opposed to Brexit, but rejecting the vote of the people in a referendum would be seen as extraordinary, not least for the scores of Labour MPs whose constituents voted to leave.
If Theresa May would like Parliament to trigger Article 50 with a clear conscience, she may decide to call a general election.
