Farming Industry Joint Statement

Farming industry calls for commitments on post-Brexit transition  

Fourteen farming organisations have come together to issue a joint statement on UK Government to provide short-term certainty for the industry as exiting the European Union and the Common Agricultural Policy draws closer.   

The 14 organisations say Governments across the UK need to work together with the farmers and land managers to prepare for a new long-standing free trade agreement which retains and grows opportunities for food trade with the EU and the rest of the world. They also call for commitments on transition that will see the UK remain in the Customs Union until a full free trade agreement is in place with the EU.

Matthew Knight, managing director RABDF, said: "Time must be taken to put the right trade agreements in place and to develop a new policy that will support farming and the environment for the long term.  If this can be done farmers and land managers will benefit from new opportunities in trade and agricultural policy.  RABDF will continue to work with other industry organisations to achieve this goal."

Exiting the European Union and the Common Agricultural Policy has sweeping implications for UK farming. UK farming is a vital part of the national economy, contributing in excess of £24 billion of revenues and around £8.5 billion of Gross Value Added to the UK economy in 2015. It also accounts for over 500,000 jobs (source NFU, Development Economics, February 2017). It is also responsible for the management of our farmed countryside which makes up around 70% of the total UK land mass.

Looking to the future, there are many opportunities to increase markets for our products, to drive innovation and new investment into our industry, to increase our productive efficiency, to upskill our workforce and to establish new, simpler and more effective means of supporting farmers and land managers to deliver a range of benefits to society.

The process of exiting the EU brings risks and uncertainties that have to be managed. That is why we are calling on the UK Government to seek to secure an agreement on an initial transition period through which the UK retains unfettered access to European markets, remaining within the Customs Union. Such arrangements must be in place for the full duration of negotiations and implementation of a Free Trade Agreement between the UK and the EU that could extend beyond the end of Article 50 process.

We are committed to working with the UK Government to maintain the high standards of quality, welfare and provenance that sets out UK food in domestic and international markets. This includes supporting the UK’s world leading assurance schemes like Red Tractor, that are critical to the UK brand. As well as maintaining a commitment to maintain and champion UK standards in trade policy with the EU and the rest of the world.

We believe that a fairer, more transparent and accountable UK supply chain is vital to the future of a sustainable domestic food market that works in the best interest of consumers and producers. We call on Government, to ensure that UK law, including the role and remit of the Grocery Code Adjudicator, is fit for purpose ready for life outside of the European Union.

The UK Government must put in place a fully functioning immigration system, before the end of freedom of movement that ensures farmers have access to the workers that are vital to supporting our industry.

We are committed to working with the UK, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Governments to establish a new and better agriculture and land use policy once the UK leaves the Common Agricultural Policy. In turn, we call on our Governments to work together with us to establish a collaborative policy framework and budget.

We welcome Ministers commitment to the continuity of support based upon existing schemes and budgets. This should allow necessary time to address market failures in supply chains and provide a vital window for the development, implementation and testing of a new policy framework that ensures sustainable growth of a competitive and valuable farming sector.

This certainty in the short term provides the necessary time for farmers to prepare for a new long- standing free trade agreement that retains and grows the opportunities for competitive, profitable and progressive farm businesses with the European Union and the rest of the World.