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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| The government said leaving the EU with a deal remained its "top priority". | |
| "We are meeting weekly with representatives from our food and drink industry to help prepare for all scenarios," said a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. | |
| But the food industry said the current situation 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. | "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 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 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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. |