No-deal scenario would be ‘catastrophic’ for British agriculture

The NFU says technical notices released confirm farmers’ fears that a no-deal Brexit scenario would have devastating impacts for British food and farming.

The government has released its latest, and last, batch of technical notices on the implications of a “no deal” scenario for UK businesses.

For the agricultural industry, the notices suggest that the export of animals and animal products would face a cliff-edge scenario in the event of leaving the EU with no deal.

The UK would need to be approved by the EU as an exporter – a process which could take a minimum of six months.

A technical notice has been released on organic farming, which suggests that the trade of organic agri-food products would face a cliff edge situation after Brexit.

The notices issued also include clarifications to farmers that, in the short term, farm payments will continue to be made on the same basis as now and under the same conditions.

'Critical importance'

The NFU says these notices underlines the "critical importance" of a deal that delivers free and frictionless trade with the UK's biggest trading partner.

The total value of agri-food exports to the EU in 2017 was £13bn, of which £3.15 billion was animals and animal products.

NFU President Minette Batters said: “These technical notices confirm in black and white what we already knew: a no deal scenario would be catastrophic for British agriculture.

“A scenario where farmers face an immediate trade embargo for many of their products would have devastating effects, and would severely threaten livelihoods and businesses.

“While these notices are an essential part of Government planning, it is crucial that the Government does as much as possible to avoid disruption for farm businesses in all outcomes.

“We urge everyone in the negotiations to work to achieve a deal that delivers free and frictionless trade between the UK and the EU,” she said.

The NFU has been clear that its priority is achieving a good trading relationship with the EU, the UK's largest trading partner.

The farming union has previously warned that a 'no deal' Brexit could bring farms to the "brink of collapse".

The UK is due to leave the EU in March 2019.