The House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee will continue its inquiry into the implications of Brexit on UK agriculture on Wednesday 1 February.
The Committee will hear from the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), the Country, Land and Business Association (CLA) and the Soil Association.
The Committee will explore with the witnesses what critical policy decisions the Government must consider before the UK leaves the EU; how important trade with the EU is; and whether the UK should align itself with EU standards for agricultural goods, food safety, animal welfare, pesticides and plant protections after Brexit.
Membership of the EU has allowed the UK to trade freely in agricultural goods and foods with Member States and has determined the UK’s external trading relations with the rest of the world.
European Union legislation has also governed UK policy on agricultural production, animal welfare, food safety, product standards, environmental protection, funding and rural development.
This inquiry seeks to highlight the challenges the Government will face when disentangling UK farming from the EU and the opportunities that arise for agriculture and food after withdrawal.
Questions likely to be asked
• What are the implications of leaving the Common Agricultural Policy for tenant farmers, organic farming and land owners?
• What are the critical policy decisions the Government must consider and/or implement before the UK leaves the EU?
• In repatriating agricultural policy, should the Government review, diminish or strengthen regulations that affect the agricultural sector? What examples are there of legislative areas/legislation that merit de-regulation?
• How important is trade with the EU to tenant farmers, organic farming and land owners?
• How will the future trading relationship with the EU and external influences such as WTO rules affect tenant farmers, organic farming and land owners?
The first evidence session took place on Wednesday 25 January, the Committee took evidence from leading academics.
