Call for transition period after Brexit

Withdrawal from the Common Agricultural Policy, future trade arrangements and access to labour are the three critical challenges facing the UK agriculture sector following Brexit, claims a new House of Lords report.

The report is published by the House of Lords EU Energy and Environment sub-committee today.

It says a transitional period is needed to allow farmers to survive and prosper after Brexit.

Committee chairman Lord Teverson said: “Post-Brexit, the UK’s agriculture and food sectors face enormous challenges.

“Life after the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy will not be easy for the many UK farmers who rely on its financial support.

“But leaving the EU is also an opportunity for the UK, and its constituent nations and regions, to move away from the EU’s ‘one-size-fits-all’ policies on farming and food.

“We will be able to really think about what we want to do with agriculture, food and the environment,” added Lord Teverson.

He said future trade agreements, in particular those with Europe, were really important for the sector.

“It is unlikely that a comprehensive trade deal with the EU will be negotiated before Brexit, so a transitional deal is vital to avoiding a ‘cliff edge’ for farmers.

“The Government and the devolved administrations will also need to be careful that tailored agricultural policies don’t create non-tariff barriers for UK exports,” he said.

Leaving the EU is also an opportunity. LORD TEVERSON