13 March 2017

Food and drink supply chain calls for early agreement on future UK trade with Ireland

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In a cross-sector act of cooperation, signatories from 35 representative bodies in the UK food and drink supply chain have signed an open letter calling on the Government to make an early agreement on future trade with the Republic of Ireland as the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

Open letter - 13 March 2017

A key priority for the food and drink industry is to secure tariff-free trade with the EU, which remains our largest external market and our largest source of imported supplies.

This is of particular importance in the case of the Republic of Ireland, our only land border with the EU. It buys more from us than the United States, China, Russia, Brazil, Canada and Japan combined. Nearly a fifth of UK food and drink exports go to Ireland, with more than a third of Ireland's reaching UK shores. A quarter of all Northern Irish milk is processed in the South. More than half of Irish beef and cheese goes to the UK. The UK supplies 80 per cent of the flour used in the Republic. We could go on.

The seamless single market in food and drink across the UK and Ireland allows the free movement of goods and workers. It also means that the majority of food sourced in Ireland from EU and international sources, particularly fresh produce, arrives via ports and supply chains from across the whole of the UK. This complete interdependence is essential to ensuring our food security and to feeding both countries.

We represent the UK's agri-food and drink sector. It employs four million people or 13.5 per cent of the UK workforce. Our industry needs Government to ensure existing tariff-free trading arrangements between the UK and Ireland are maintained.

New disruptive customs barriers, port health controls and other costly bureaucratic requirements that impede the movement of goods and workers must be avoided. They would disrupt established supply chain networks that operate across the UK and Ireland and would cause significant economic damage while adding to existing food price inflation faced by consumers.

A cliff-edge scenario that results in a sudden transformation to our trading arrangements with Ireland would be hugely damaging for our industry and for the wider economy on both sides of the border.

In the event that new customs requirements cannot be avoided, continuity and predictability for business must be a priority. Government would need to evaluate the administrative and regulatory requirements and put in place robust plans to deliver transitional arrangements that minimise disruption and provide sufficient time to allow businesses to adapt.

We are pleased that the Prime Minister is seeking a 'frictionless' border between the UK and Ireland post-Brexit. It is imperative that once Article 50 is triggered the future border arrangements are high on the target list for prompt resolution. Government should make a clear and early statement of principle that it is committed to maintaining this trade with Ireland and that it will make it a priority in negotiations.

Co-signed by chief executives of the following organisations:

Ian Wright Director General, Food and Drink Federation David Caffall Chief Executive, Agricultural Industries Confederation James Smith President, Association of Bakery Ingredient Manufacturers David Camp Chief Executive, Association of Labour Providers Kate Nicholls Chief Executive, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers Andy Tighe Policy Director, British Beer and Pub Association Ufi Ibrahim Chief Executive, British Hospitality Association Nick Allen Chief Executive, British Meat Processors Association Richard Griffiths Chief Executive, British Poultry Council Helen Dickinson Chief Executive, British Retail Consortium Gavin Partington Director General, British Soft Drink Association Declan O'Brien Director General, British Specialist Nutrition Association Sam Jennings Technical Adviser, Council for Responsible Nutrition UK Judith Bryans Chief Executive, Dairy UK Gordon Polson Director, Federation of Bakers James Bielby Chief Executive, Federation of Wholesale Distributors Andy Richardson Chair, Food and Drink Wales Industry Board Nigel Jenney CEO, Fresh Produce Consortium Graham Keen Executive Director, Health Food Manufacturers' Association Liz Murphy CEO, International Meat Trade Association Alex Waugh Director General, National Association of British and Irish Millers Bob Price Director and Policy Adviser, National Association of Cider Makers Terry Jones Director General, National Farmers' Union Michael Bell Executive Director, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association Conall Donnelly Executive Director, Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association Dick Searle Chief Executive, Packaging Federation Michael Bellingham Chief Executive, Pet Food Manufacturers' Association John Smith Chief Executive, Proprietary Association of Great Britain Andrew Kuyk Director General, Provision Trade Federation Julie Hesketh-Laird Acting CEO, Scotch Whisky Association Simon Cripps Chairman, Seasoning and Spice Association Steve Morgan Chair, UK Flavour Association John Whitehead Director, UK Food and Drink Exporters Association Wesley Aston Chief Executive, Ulster Farmers' Union Miles Beale Chief Executive, Wine and Spirit Trade Association.

More information

Contact Matthew Evans, Corporate Affairs Division, at: Matthew.Evans@fdf.org.uk, or (0) 20 7420 7152.

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