The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Organic group issues Brexit warning
An organic certification body is the latest agricultural organisation to warn against Britain leaving the EU, writes
Gemma Mackenzie.
Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G) said that without “solid assurances of continued support from Defra”, Britain’s organic food producers and processors could face serious risks in the event of a Brexit.
OF&G, which certifies more than half of the UK’s organic land, said being part of the European Union gave organic businesses direct access to the world’s second-largest organic market, worth in excess of £20.5 billion.
It said in the event of Britain leaving Europe, organic businesses may face new trade tariffs, while sterling may lose value making some raw materials and ingredients more expensive to import.
The organisation also warned that by leaving the EU, UK organic producers would be cut off from influencing the development of EU regulations which they would still have to abide by in order to trade in European markets.
OF&G chief executive Roger Kerr said: “Organic is a strong and growing sector across Europe, and we have concerns about whether the opportunities this presents will be so freely available to UK businesses if the UK were to leave the EU.
“Without some clear vision as to what faces UK organic business were we to leave the EU, leaving one of the world’s largest organic markets does present risks.”
Responding to the comments, a Defra spokeswoman said leaving the EU was a “leap in the dark”.
She said: “What is clear is our food and farming industry will be better off in a reformed EU, with easy access to the world’s largest single market of 500 million consumers, which accounts for 60% of our food and drink exports worth £11bn.
“This is the best free trade deal of all and brings significant investment and jobs to the UK, and means our businesses have a level playing field with common standards on welfare, safety and labelling.”