News article
23 August 2018
FDF response to Government's No-Deal' Technical Notices
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Responding to the publication today by the Government of a set of 'no-deal'
Technical Notices, Food
and Drink Federation chief executive, Ian Wright CBE, said:
“The Government's laudable decision to publish these Technical Notices
nevertheless confirms
what a grisly prospect for UK food and drink a no-deal exit from the EU would
be. There is no sign of
further progress on negotiating frameworks with the devolved administrations.
There is no substantive
information on mitigating the effect of 'no deal' on the island of Ireland,
where the implications would be
most significant.
“Specifically for food, today's notice about organic food certification
makes
clear that UK
organic exporters may face a ban on their exports to the EU for at least nine
months after a no-deal exit,
while new approvals for certification are sought. These issues apply far more
widely than just to organic
food – any UK food that currently displays EU marks or logos will be in
the same
boat.
“Moreover, the UK food industry will doubt that the Government could
replace
TRACES (the
EU Trade Control and Expert System that tracks the entire trade and
certification process for animals,
food, feed and plants) with a new, comprehensive, functional UK alternative IT
system in time for the end
of March.
“The new burdens potentially facing food and drink exporters and importers
set
out today will
frighten many SME food businesses.
“The piecemeal release of these notices indicates that many are not yet
ready
and agreed for
publication. That hardly inspires confidence. As the consequences of a no-deal
exit from the EU
become ever clearer it is vital that, to protect the interests of shoppers and
consumers, the Government
must deliver a deal with the EU.”
More Information
Contact Ella Stanbrook, Corporate Affairs Division, at: ella.stanbrook@fdf.org.uk, or 02074207131.
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