Lords question Gove on EU Commission’s ‘no deal’ stakeholder advice

A House of Lords Committee has written a letter to Michael Gove seeking the government's view on the EU publishing a series of Notices to influential UK food and farming figures.

The EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee has written a letter to the Defra Secretary to seek the Government’s view on the EU Commission’s advice to environment and food stakeholders on preparing for a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario.

The European Commission is publishing a series of Notices setting out the consequences for trading and legal arrangements in the event that no Brexit deal is reached by 30 March 2019.

Many are addressed to stakeholders across the UK's food, farming and waste sectors.

They state that a variety of certifications issued by the UK will no longer be valid, that certain organisations will need an EU base or representative to continue to operate in the EU, and that some food trade exports will be prohibited unless certain steps are taken.

The Committee has asked Mr Gove whether the Government is seeking to get UK environment and food certifications recognised by the EU.

It is also asking what assessment the Government has made of the impact on individuals, organisations and the UK economy of UK environment and food certification no longer being recognised, and of reapplying for certification.

The letter asks Mr Gove what steps the Government is taking to ensure food of animal origin can be exported to the EU in a ‘no deal’ scenario.