The farming industry has agreed a list of principles that it believes should guide policy development and implementation once the UK leaves the EU.
The statement, agreed by the UK Farming Roundtable, highlights the industry's priority to ensure equal access to the UK's single market for all producers.
The Roundtable, which includes 15 organisations, says the differences between devolved governments in developing distinct agricultural policies to replace the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must not adversely impact on trade within the UK.
The organisations said the UK governments must "establish and maintain regular, formal and cooperative arrangements to manage policy, legislation and delivery of regulation across the UK" and that a priority should be to "take every step to retain and protect a single market access for food, agricultural commodities, live animals and plant products throughout the UK".
The farming organisations, which include the likes of the NFU, the CLA and the National Sheep Association, met at the headquarters of the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) in Belfast.
They want a UK policy framework for farming which maintains the current devolution settlement of policy and regulation for the devolved governments of the UK.
A guiding principle agreed upon is that no single country determines or curtail UK policy in the rest of the UK.
They say that no part of the UK should be able to act, or avoid action, that threatens to curtail access for other parts of the UK to third country markets, or that question the UK’s adherence to its international agreements.
The organisations also welcome the government’s commitment to provide the same cash total in funds for farm support as is currently paid out under the CAP.
"In the longer term, with the development of a new domestic agricultural policy, at least the same level of public investment in agriculture should be retained," the Roundtable added.
The signatories to the statement are: NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, CLA, British Poultry Council, LEAF, National Sheep Association, Scottish Land and Estates, Soil Association, Tenant Farmers Association, Ulster Farmers Union, National Pig Association, British Egg Industry Council, RABDF, National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.
