ARE THERE GOING TO BE FOOD SHORTAGES?
WARNINGS of empty supermarket shelves are based on two assumptions: that we import much of our food from the EU and that extra customs checks will interrupt the supply of these goods.
In fact, about a third of our food is imported from the EU, though the figure is higher for fresh veg (more than half) and fresh fruit (up to 84 per cent). The theoretical risk of shortages of these goods after No Deal is higher.
However, European producers will want to carry on selling to Britain. Port authorities in Calais have said they plan no extra customs checks, even in the event of No Deal.
In addition, the British authorities have said they are prepared to waive perishable goods through ports if there is No Deal and deal with the paperwork later. Channel ports have already been disrupted this week thanks to a French customs strike, and shoppers have hardly noticed. The same happened in 2015 when a strike by port workers at Calais led to tailbacks on the M20 – but British shops did not run out of food.
A greater risk to the availability of goods is panic buying.