Industry body IBEC says that in order to support businesses as a result of Brexit, EU and national government funding should be provided over a three-year period.

It says that a level of 5% of the value of current annual export sales to the UK will be required. This puts the level of support for the agri food sector at €220m.

IBEC says these funds should be targeted at supporting innovation, market diversification, upskilling and capital expenditure in equipment and machinery.

It identifies agriculture as one of the most exposed sectors from Brexit. It is calling for a temporary state aid framework similar to that introduced in 2009. It is also calling for greater focus on ramping up investment in roads, ports and air in regions left most remote in the EU.

Along with transitional measures to bridge the gap between a UK exit and a new EU-UK free trade agreement, it is specifically calling on the current sanitary and phytosanitary standards around food production to be recognised and maintained by both the EU and the UK on exit day and during the transition to a free-trade agreement.

IBEC wants as ‘‘close as possible’’ a trading relationship between the EU and the UK post-Brexit to include minimal tariff and non-tariff barriers.

As the UK is used as a land bridge, it is calling for co-operation between customs to avoid burdensome checks such as veterinary inspections.