Unfair trade

FARMERS are reeling from the Government’s decision to postpone checks on EU imports until a digital system is in place, probably in 2023. ‘EU exporters can access our market relatively cost- and burden-free, whereas our exporters have faced the full weight of EU controls since the start of 2021,’ says an NFU spokesperson, who highlights that UK exports to the EU have dropped by 12% between 2020 and 2021. ‘This is in addition to the significant inflationary pressure farmers are already under with the rapidly rising costs of fuel, feed and fertiliser.’

It’s not only a matter of losing competitive advantage. The enduring lack of food-import controls leaves the door open for potential diseases and other hazards that could put Britain’s animal health, biosecurity and food safety at risk. The NFU is urgently calling for a national strategy to secure and support the country’s food supply.