EU off icials to decide fate of our biggest f ishing port

BRITAIN’S largest fishing port faces a ‘make or break’ decision on whether it can continue to export to Europe after a No Deal Brexit.

The Peterhead port and fish market in the North-east needs accreditation from Europe before it can export if Britain leaves at the end of next month.

Officials from the main market authority in Boulogne- sur-Mer in France visited the site this week to judge whether it meets requirements expected of a ‘third country’, which the UK will become if it exits the EU without a deal.

The port is crucial to Scotland’s seafood industry, with fish landings worth more than £200million last year. It is heavily reliant on exports to the EU, which are sent daily via the port in Boulogne.

A delegation from France has been in Scotland to assess facilities this week for a No Deal Brexit.

Similar inspections will be required at other parts of the food industry, such as factories for fish processing, beef, lamb and pork, before a decision is made next month.

Currently, local environmental health officers are responsible for judging whether facilities meet EU standards. But this will become the responsibility of the European Commission under a No Deal Brexit.

David Thomson, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation Scotland, said: ‘If meat and fish businesses want to export to Europe after a No Deal Brexit they will have to prove they meet European standards, and have to undergo a whole range of inspections.

‘It is make or break if we want to continue to export to Europe after Brexit.’

He added: ‘There is a real danger that, if there is no deal and the UK don’t adhere to the same standards as an equivalent European state, it opens up the possibility for factories to be blacklisted immediately.’

It is understood the application for listing as a third country authorised to export products of animal origin to the EU is based entirely on a favourable opinion by the commission’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed that will meet on October 11, based on the documentary evidence submitted by the UK Government.

The Scottish Government said: ‘A No Deal Brexit would be disastrous for Scotland.

‘The scenarios raised in relation to fishing are issues which should not arise, and if they do will be entirely down to the stance taken by the UK Government.’

‘It is make or break’