Food industry trade bodies are discussing whether to take legal action against the government over post-Brexit plans that will require all meat and dairy products sold in the UK to be labelled as “not for EU”.
Food businesses sending products to the EU have had to fork out an extra £170m in export costs because of Brexit red tape, with the changes described as being “catastrophic” for some exporters. / Data shows costs have contributed to value of meat exports falling by 17% since 2019.
Brexit: despatches from the downside – No 19
27/01/2024
This week's Brexit downsides: half a billion in extra costs to import food, the collapse of trade talks with Canada and more.
Business chiefs say new red tape could reduce shelf life of fresh produce by one-fifth. / A group representing 30 major business bodies said the new requirement to notify the British authorities a day before European goods are sent would lead to big delays.
Post-Brexit controls on food, plant and animal imports to Britain from the EU have come into force.
Imports of chilled and frozen meat and fish, cheese and dairy products, and five common varieties of cut flowers will require an export health certificate, signed off by a European vet or plant inspector, before they can enter the UK.
Critical industry leaders have accused Home Secretary Suella Braverman of being disconnected from the realities facing short staffed sectors after she claimed that there is "no good reason" why more British people can't be trained to take up jobs as butchers and fruit pickers.
Could take ‘decades’ to shift away from reliance on overseas staff, say food sector leaders attending Downing Street summit.
Fears of new disruption to fresh produce supply from EU when import controls hit in October.
The 730 redundancies at a chicken processing plant could be the “first of many” such blows to the Welsh economy the Leader of Anglesey County Council has warned.
Fruit and veg supply could be ‘in trouble’, says NFU – citing added costs of Brexit and Ukraine war.
“The Netherlands is a great place to set up a business. They are ready to help and they sit next to so many key markets," one business owner said.
UK hauliers of perishable goods are wanting to be prioritised at the port crossing into Europe, complaining that long wait times are causing products to go bad.
Food body warns of ‘post-Brexit perception problem’ over recurring traffic gridlock.
Extra import controls will be ‘impossible’ for small businesses, says food industry chief.
For the past two years now, British poultry businesses that trade with the EU have faced a double standard.
Sharp fall in qualified professionals needed to sign off health certificates for products going to EU.
New post-Brexit border paperwork coming into force in July is expected to cost UK food companies millions of pounds, according to a trade body.
British Meat Processors Association takes aim at costs tied to Export Health Certificates.
Brexit trade war would have ‘immediate and devastating’ impact on UK economy, industry warns
15/11/2021
Business chiefs and economists say huge disruption lies ahead if Downing Street triggers Article 16.
Staff shortages see carcasses exported for processing and then reimported.
British cattle farmers are sending supplies to Ireland to be carved into cuts, according to the chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA), before being brought back to the UK for consumption.
Great Britain’s beef producers export to Ireland before reimporting, while pork processors consider the Netherlands.
Vets Receive The Brexit Treatment
22/10/2021
Stephen Delahunty explores how Britain’s departure from the EU is increasing the demand for vets, while their numbers fall
"No checks on imports from the continent has handed the EU a nice Brexit dividend", says BMPA
18/10/2021
The latest opinion piece from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) notes postponing import checks from the EU leaves UK meat exporters at a significant disadvantage.