The British sheep industry has warned Theresa May that the decision to pursue a hard Brexit will present a 'huge risk', forcing the industry to turn away from global aspirations and instead focus on domestic sustainability.
The National Sheep Association (NSA) has warned of disruption to existing trade structures, the reliance of the meat processing sector on migrant labour, and competition from free trade deals.
On Wednesday (17 January), the Prime Minister said the UK 'cannot possibly' remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean 'not leaving the EU at all'.
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, said it is 'inevitable' the EU referendum result would mean existing trade structures would face disruption.
He said that the NSA has 'consistently' been of the view that ongoing tariff-free access to the EU market was 'essential to avoid disruption and price volatility'.
Mr Stocker said: “We made it clear we wanted to remain in the single market, in the knowledge too that our industry relies heavily on migrant labour.
“Tuesday’s announcement by Prime Minister Theresa May presents a huge risk to the UK sheep industry when she talks of the ‘freest possible trade’ but very clearly outside of the single market.
“This suggests the acceptance of a level of tariffs, the result of which will be industry paying for any market access it can get to work economically. This is a continuation of passing costs back to industry within a free market economy and is an approach that clashes with our current policy of the provision of plentiful food on shop shelves at competitively low prices.”
'96 per cent'
The sheep sector as one at particular risk, as up to 40% of UK lamb production is exported each year, with 96% of that going into the EU single market.
Mr Stocker continues: “NSA would like to once again remind Ministers and policy makers that sheep farming is an essential primary industry that contributes positively to food production, environmental and landscape management, provides the foundation for much of our farmland ecology, and supports many rural communities and economies.
Mr Stocker said tariffs placed on sheep meat exports into the EU would 'dramatically reduce' competitiveness and the volumes sold there.
“The large-scale processing end of our industry, which has been encouraged by policy direction and market drivers and which drives much of our export volume, is massively reliant on migrant labour and has little hope of filling that labour demand effectively with the UK labour force.
“We understand we have to leave the negotiators to negotiate and that they have to set out a starting position – but it appears that the starting position is to say we want it all and refuse to consider any plan B.
“Unlike during the referendum campaign, hopefully plan B is in the drawer – because if it isn’t the cliff edge looms in terms of how we currently operate.”
Mr Stocker concluded: “Despite calls that we want Britain to be a major global player, our sheep industry may need to consider turning away from such big aspirations and focus far more on growing and protecting our domestic UK market.
“That’s not the current model and would require substantial restructuring of the industry at all levels, entirely changing the direction that has been invested in so heavily for a long time.”
