The UK’s four farming unions and 71 agri-food businesses with a combined turnover of £92bn have united in a plea to their prime minister, Theresa May, to ensure tariff-free access to the EU single market and labour availability following Brexit.

The letter, which was delivered to May on Wednesday, was co-signed by the National Farmers Union (NFU), NFU Scotland, the Ulster Farmers Union and NFU Cymru, as well as supermarket chains Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons and dairy company Dairy Crest, among others.

The 75 members of what is being described as an agri-food coalition employ more than 925,000 people across the UK.

Their letter highlighted their necessity for tariff-free access to the EU in order for their businesses to continue.

Maintaining tariff-free access to the EU single market is a vital priority

“For our sector, maintaining tariff-free access to the EU single market is a vital priority,” they wrote. “It is where 75% of our food exports go, so all our farming and food businesses wish to achieve this outcome.”

They also highlighted their need for access to labour.

Seasonal labour

“The sector needs access to EU and non-EU seasonal and permanent labour, alongside assurances that EU workers already working permanently in the UK are allowed to remain.

“This access to labour is essential as it underpins the UK food chain’s timely delivery of high-quality affordable food to consumers. We would urge that the UK government seeks both these goals as the whole of society and the economy will benefit,” the letter read.

The companies said the Brexit negotiations would have far-reaching consequences for the agri-food sector.

The letter concluded with a request to brief the prime minister before negotiations begin.

“We recognise that the negotiations will be protracted and detailed – rightly so, the best outcome must be sought – however we would welcome an early opportunity to brief you before the discussions commence and stand ready to provide input as required,” it read.

Stormont

Meanwhile, at the latest plenary session of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association (NSIPA) in Stormont on Friday, representatives of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas focused on the implications of the Brexit vote for the agri-food sector.

The members highlighted concerns about its impact on citizens north and south, in particular the impact on the border region, its communities and its people, including those who live and work on different sides of the border.

The members also heard presentations from Lorraine Hall of Kestrel Foods and IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy.

The association’s members agreed that the agri-food sector was vital to the economy in Ireland and Northern Ireland and that protecting its interests should be a key concern for the future. They raised issues such as currency fluctuations, access to markets, regulation and maintaining the standard of local produce, free movement of labour and competitiveness as priorities.

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