News article
3 September 2020
Organic food exports face outright ban if equivalence is not agreed in Brexit deal, food sector warns
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The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has circulated this release on behalf of the
organic
representatives, please find below the press release and letter attached.
Organic food exports face outright ban if equivalence is not agreed in Brexit
deal, food sector
warns
More than 30 organisations representing the organic food and drink sector,
including the FDF, have
written to Chief UK
Negotiator, Lord Frost, and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rt Hon
Michael Gove MP, to
express their deep concern about the future of trade and certification of
organic products between the
UK and the EU.
The letter warns of detrimental impacts on the organic market, highlighting that
organic food
exports from the UK face being excluded from the EU market if mutual agreement
between the UK
and EU is not achieved by the end of the year.
Global sales of organic products are rapidly approaching £100 billion and the UK
is the world's
9th largest organic market. Organic food and drink sales also boomed during the
lockdown earlier this
year, with the sector on track to hit the £2.6bn mark by the end of the year,
exceeding the £2.5bn
originally projected, according to the Soil Association.
Unless organic standards 'equivalence' is secured as part of the negotiations,
the UK will lose
access to EU markets automatically at 11pm on 31 December 2020. It would bring
significant
practical and financial problems for a dynamic, fast-growing and highly prized
part of the British food
scene. Manufacturers in Northern Ireland are likely to lose access to some
essential sources of
organic ingredients or products produced in Great Britain in favour of products
from EU member
states which will be able to be imported without additional administration, or
certification
requirements.
Roger Kerr, Chairman, The UK Organic Certifiers Group (UKOCG), said:
“The market for organic food is an essential, and growing, part of the UK's
import and export
economy and is one of a very few sectors which potentially face overnight
exclusion from a vital
market if a mutual recognition agreement between the UK and EU is not achieved
before the
December 31st deadline.
“By co-signing this letter as a sector, we are urging the UK Government to
recognise what is
at jeopardy here as we enter a new regime with the EU. Securing mutual
agreement
between the UK
and the EU in relation to organic certification must be a priority for the
negotiators.”
Omsco's Managing Director, Richard Hampton, said:
“Growth in organic food and drink sales has accelerated globally during the
Coronavirus
pandemic. The UK is very well placed to take advantage of these trade
opportunities given the
strength of the UK organic production sector and the UK's reputation for high
quality and product
safety. At Omsco, we are seeing this trend first hand, with European customers
seeking increased
volumes for next year for our quality organic dairy products sourced from our
UK
organic dairy farmer
owners.
“Access to the European market is vital not just because of the growth
opportunities that it
affords, but also because our spread of markets and products allows us to
deliver the flexibility and
availability to our UK customers and consumers. The loss of these markets will
damage efficiencies,
reduce flexibility and increase costs at a precarious economic time.
“We are just one of many successful UK organic food businesses in this position
and we
need an urgent resolution to the situation.”
The signatories of the letter were:
Organic Trade Board
Omsco
Food and Drink Federation (FDF)
Food and Drink Federation Scotland
Food and Drink Federation Cymru
FDF Organic Group
National Farmers Union (NFU)
Soil Association
On behalf of the UK Organic Control Bodies:
BDA Certification
OF&G (Scotland)
Organic Food Federation
Organic Farmers & Growers
Soil Association Certification
Quality Welsh Food Certification
Association of Bakery Ingredient Manufacturers
Breakfast Cereals UK
British Coffee Association
British Growers Association
British Importers and Distributors Association
British Oat and Barley Millers' Association
British Starch Industry Association
Cereal Ingredient Manufacturers' Association
Chilled Food Association
Council for Responsible Nutrition
Gluten Free Industry Association
International Meat Trade Association
Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association
Seasoning and Spice Association
Provision Trade Federation
UK Association of Producers of Yeast
UK Flavour Association
UK Tea and Infusions Association
Notes to editor:
The organic market in the UK has now seen its seventh year of growth,
according to the Soil Association's 2018 Exports Survey. Other key statistics from
the survey include:
- Exportation of organic products is an essential means of revenue for many
organic
businesses. Nearly half of organic businesses involved in export, are exporting
ambient grocery
products.
- Overall, UK organic food and drink exports appear to be growing strongly, with
two thirds of
respondents reporting more than 10% growth in 2017. A quarter saw value growth
exceed 25% and
only 9% reported a decrease in exports.
- In 2019, more than 85% of British adults bought organic products, compared to
80% in 2014.
More Information
Contact Megan Bevan, Corporate Affairs Division, at: Megan.Bevan@fdf.org.uk, or 07946 340 998.
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