This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47200688
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Food industry warns Gove on Brexit 'crisis' | Food industry warns Gove on Brexit 'crisis' |
(35 minutes later) | |
The UK food industry has threatened to stop co-operating with government policy consultations, saying it is busy trying to stave off the "catastrophic impact" of a no-deal Brexit. | The UK food industry has threatened to stop co-operating with government policy consultations, saying it is busy trying to stave off the "catastrophic impact" of a no-deal Brexit. |
The warning came in a letter to Environment Secretary Michael Gove from more than 30 business leaders. | The warning came in a letter to Environment Secretary Michael Gove from more than 30 business leaders. |
They said it looked "ever more the likeliest outcome" that the UK would leave the EU without an agreement. | They said it looked "ever more the likeliest outcome" that the UK would leave the EU without an agreement. |
They added that it was a "moment of potential crisis" for their industry. | They added that it was a "moment of potential crisis" for their industry. |
Those signing the letter included the heads of the Food and Drink Federation, the National Farmers' Union and UK Hospitality. | Those signing the letter included the heads of the Food and Drink Federation, the National Farmers' Union and UK Hospitality. |
"Neither we nor our members have the physical resources nor organisational bandwidth to engage with and properly respond to non-Brexit related policy consultations or initiatives at this time," they wrote. | |
"Government has recruited many extra staff; we cannot." | "Government has recruited many extra staff; we cannot." |
The firms urge the government to place a range of current and planned industry consultations on "pause" until the Brexit uncertainty is over. | |
The consultations the firms cite include one relating to further curbs on the advertising of sugary foods, a national recycling collection strategy and proposals for a tax on plastic items with less than 30% recycled content. | |
The letter, first reported by Sky, is further evidence of the industry's frustration at the continuing lack of certainty over the Brexit process. | |
"Businesses throughout the UK food chain - and their trade associations - are now totally focused on working to mitigate the catastrophic impact of a no-deal Brexit," says the letter, which was sent last Friday. | |
"Large amounts of time, money, people and effort are being diverted to that end." | |
The letter comes just two weeks after major retailers warned MPs that a no-deal Brexit would cause huge disruption to the industry, leading to higher prices and empty shelves in the short-term. | |
Sainsbury's, Asda and McDonald's were among those who warned stockpiling fresh food was impossible, and that the UK was very reliant on the EU for produce. |