'UK - EU agreement is huge boost for farmers'

South Wales Argus

18 hours ago

The sheer amount of red tape has meant it has been very difficult for the export of shelf-life foods such as meat, fruit and vegetables.
The need for increased identity and physical checks, including all the additional paperwork such as export health certificates and phytosanitary certificates have all contributed to long queues with produce sat at the border, incurring further costs and difficulties for the industry.
When you consider that a third of Welsh lamb and around 90 per cent of Welsh food and drink exports go to the European single market, it's clear to see how fettered access has a huge impact on farmers across the country.
Thankfully, the details of the new agreement penned in May look positive for agriculture across the region.
Firstly, there will be the removal of some routine checks on medium risk fruit and veg and much of the additional paperwork will be reduced or eliminated entirely.
There will also be the removal of some routine checks on animal and plant products, meaning that the UK can again sell raw sausages and burgers to the EU, something the British Meat Processors Association declared could 'bring back the trade that simply ceased after Brexit, due to crippling red tape and tens of millions of extra costs'.
Over all, the NFU has welcomed the agreement, which essentially will mean faster and simpler border checks and reduced export costs.
However, it stressed the need to secure exclusions from dynamic alignments, such as the Precision Breeding Bill, and for protections in the UK's ability to make regulatory decisions as further agreements are made.
Nick Park is director of Cwmbran-based Accountants & Tax Advisors, Green & Co, and a member of the Country Landowners Association (CLA) National Taxation Committee.