Losing access to EU markets a ‘catastrophe’ for sheep industry
A halt on imports, the establishment of longterm cold storage facilities and guaranteed public procurement of lamb will be essential to save the UK’S sheep industry from the potentially devastating effects of a “no deal” Brexit.
In one of the first practical responses to the existential threat to the UK’S sheep industry, the National Sheep Association (NSA) yesterday called for such measures.
The organisation’s chief executive, Phil Stocker said any interruption to exports to the EU would be devastating for the sector which relied heavily on that market – and extreme measures would be required.
He said the case was even bleaker if imports continued to pour in, as had been suggested in some government departments: “If we lose access to Europe for UK sheepmeat, even for a few months, and still allow imported lamb to come in, then our markets will quickly become flooded and prices will plummet, with farmers feeling the brunt of it.”
He said the only option would be to close the UK’S doors to sheepmeat imports and focus on getting all UK lamb production into domestic markets. Admitting that this would be challenging, he said using public procurement markets such as the armed forces, schools and hospitals, and investing in long-term cold storage would allow the most to be made of what would otherwise be a catastrophe:
“The UK is better placed to grow grass and raise sheep than most other nations around the globe and it would be a travesty if this sustainable and renewable industry was allowed to fall apart.”