Government called on to pause non-Brexit consultations

The letter, signed by trade bodies including the Food and Drink Federation, British Meat Processors Association and the British Frozen Food Federation, called on Secretary of State Michael Gove to ‘pause’ to any current or planned consultations that impact the food and drink industry but don’t relate to Brexit.

It states: “In fewer than 50 days, the UK will leave the European Union. The legal default is that we will do so irrespective of whether or not we have signed a withdrawal agreement and, at present, that no-deal Brexit looks ever more the likeliest outcome.​

“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. Large amounts of time, money, people and effort are being diverted to that end.​

“At this moment of potential crisis for our industry, it cannot be ‘business as usual’ within government. 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. Government has recruited many extra staff; we cannot.”​

The letter goes on to say that if the Government does press on with any of these consultations, it will be seen as a “sign of bad faith”​ and that many bodies may not offer responses.

The letter listed out the currently running consultations it feels could be placed on hold, these include the Consultation on Protecting and Enhancing England’s Trees and Woodlands; Fitness Check of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive and Improving our management of water in the environment.

The expected consultations that the collective believe should be delayed include sustainable use of pesticides, urea fertiliser use, chemicals strategy and 25-year environment targets.

A Defra spokesperson said the Secretary of State will respond formally to this letter in due course but added: 

“Leaving the EU with a deal remains the government’s top priority, and we are meeting weekly with representatives from our food and drink industry to help prepare for all scenarios. While we have intensified our no deal planning, we are continuing to tackle other priority issues that matter to people, including our plans to reduce plastic waste and deliver a Green Brexit.”​