The NFU has warned that Brexit negotiations "must deliver" for the food and farming industry as Theresa May admits that "no-one will get everything they want" out of EU withdrawal.
In a speech at the London’s Mansion House on Friday (2 March), the Prime Minister said single market access would be "less than it is now" and the UK would have to pay into some EU agencies.
Mrs May said there were “hard facts” and “choices” to be faced, and “no one will get everything they want”.
She said: “I want to be straight with people – because the reality is that we all need to face up to some hard facts.
“We are leaving the single market. Life is going to be different. In certain ways, our access to each other’s markets will be less than it is now. How could the EU’s structure of rights and obligations be sustained, if the UK – or any country – were allowed to enjoy all the benefits without all of the obligations?”
NFU President Minette Batters responded to the speech, and said that the future trading relationship with the EU is "one of the most critical issues" facing British farming.
Mrs Batters said high quality, safe and affordable British food is a "public right" and needs to be placed at the centre of Brexit negotiations.
“Whilst I welcome the Prime Minister’s recognition that we should make the most of the opportunities presented by our withdrawal, now is the time for detail to be placed on the table,” the NFU President said.
“The future of our trading relationship is up there with the most critical issues facing the British farming industry. We absolutely need to get this right if farming is to keep delivering for Britain’s economy, environment and food security.
“It is our ambition to work with Government in creating a new agricultural policy that drives innovation and food production.”
High welfare standards
In the London Mansion House speech, Theresa May noted that the UK is leaving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and will want to take the opportunity that brings to reform British agriculture management.
She said the UK has among the highest environmental and animal welfare standards "of any nation on earth".
Mrs May said: “As we leave the EU we will uphold environmental standards and go further to protect our shared natural heritage. And I fully expect that our standards will remain at least as high as the EU’s.”
Minette Batters said the Prime Minister is right to publicly recognise that British farmers adhere to some of the highest standards in the world and that those standards will not be compromised in a future trade deal.
The NFU President added: “However, there are less than 400 days to go until Brexit. Time is now ticking for the diverse range of businesses that make up the British food and farming sector.
“Many farmers are now making business decisions for the next five or even ten years without knowing what trading environment they will be operating in.
“The time has now come for both sides of the negotiation to come to the table in a meaningful way to agree a way forward which will ensure that farming and food production does have a resilient future outside the EU.
She added: “Farming is the bedrock of the largest manufacturing sector – food and drink - which contributes £112 billion to the nation’s economy and provides 3.8 million jobs. This cannot be forgotten at the negotiating table.”
