Organic businesses’ plea for Brexit ‘grace periods’

ORGANIC sector leaders have joined the likes of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and National Sheep Association (NSA) in welcoming the successful conclusion of a Brexit deal.

Speaking after the Christmas Eve agreement was announced, the Soil Association said it was “delighted” to hear that the UK had reached a trade deal with the European Union.

The charity hopes this will lead to both “increased certainty and reduced complexity around trading organic products”, allowing British-based organic businesses to continue to trade in the EU, and minimising longterm disruption to vital trade flows between the UK and Europe.

But it warns that the news will have come “frustratingly late in the day” for organic suppliers who have already started making adjustments for a nodeal scenario.

Lee Holdstock, senior business development manager for the Soil Association, commented: “We urge Governments to call for grace periods that will enable businesses to change tack once more. The organic market is booming, with UK organic sales on track reach £2.6 billion by end of 2020, after reaching their highest growth level in over a decade at 9.5% – so it’s crucial that Government ensure any obstacles to the continued success of the sector are minimised.”