UK:EU reset deals spells danger warns NFU

Any future “reset” agreement with the EU must succeed in facilitating trade in agricultural goods without undermining the technological gains the UK has made since Brexit, warns the NFU.

The comments come in response to confirmation from prime minister Andy Burnham on Monday (12 October) that talks for greater trade liberalisation with Brussels are back on track, with a UK:EU summit confirmed for 20 November.

See also: Defra puts use of processed animal protein on hold due to SPS

That will include a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement covering food and drink, with the UK aligning to EU standards in return for reduced red tape at the borders.

Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Burnham said it would be a “dereliction of duty” not to seek a deeper partnership with the EU, both to promote economic growth and strengthen immigration controls.

The boost to the UK economy could amount to more than £10bn a year by 2040, he said.

Double-edged sword

However, farming groups see such a deal as a double-edged sword.

Reducing friction at the borders, for example by scrapping costly export health certificates on British food entering the EU and reducing the number of inspections, could help recoup some of the drop in food export volumes since Brexit (see table).

However, the NFU is concerned that, without so-called “carve outs” for things such as pesticide approvals and gene-edited plant breeding, farmers in Great Britain could lose a number of productivity gains that have been achieved since leaving the EU.

“British farmers and growers must retain access to precision-breeding technologies that will help to strengthen food resilience to extreme weather, and to science-based plant protection products that help protect food being grown for 29 million households from pests and diseases,” said NFU president Tom Bradshaw.

Even though the EU has recently passed legislation paving the way for gene-edited crops within its borders, this will not come into effect for another two years.

Different rules also apply to the use of glyphosate, with the EU already banning its use as a pre-harvest desiccant – something that is still allowed under UK legislation, but may have to end following EU alignment.

Criticism 

While such details are yet to be sorted, Mr Burnham’s drive towards an SPS agreement drew sharp criticism from opposition parties in Parliament on Monday.

Conservative farming spokesman Robbie Moore told the prime minister the farming sector was putting out “huge warnings” about the possible downside of an SPS deal.

He urged Mr Burnham to familiarise himself with a report from CropLife UK which has shown that aligning the UK’s crop protection rules with the EU “would slash farming incomes by up to £810m in the first year alone”.

Mr Burnham said he would take a look at the report.