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The uncertainty that the Brexit process has brought to businesses in the NI agri food sector needs to end, NI Meat Exporters’ Association (NIMEA) chief executive Conall Donnelly has said.
Speaking at CAFRE Greenmount on Wednesday, Donnelly said that the customers of meat processors are becoming increasingly wary of trading arrangements after Brexit.
“Customers in Europe are backing a way a bit from buying in NI and the UK in general, because they don’t know in the second quarter of next year if we will be in that market,” he said.
In the closing presentation of the Health Cattle, Health Profits Conference, the NIMEA chief made clear that Brexit was already having a significant impact on businesses.
“The uncertainty facing factories right now is totally and utterly unprecedented. It is not acceptable. It needs to stop right now,” Donnelly said in his straight-talking address.
Extension
He suggested that, to avoid a no-deal Brexit, article 50 would likely have to be extended if the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement fails to get support in the UK parliament.
This would delay the UK leaving the EU at the end of March 2019 and would allow the UK more time for options such as re-negotiations with the EU, a general election, or even a second referendum.
However, Donnelly pointed out that this would not appease the uncertainty facing the NI agri food industry and could potentially make it worse.
In his presentation, one of the slides included a graphic which portrayed the EU and UK as two chess pieces.
Donnelly pointed out that they were pawns, which is the weakest piece in a game of chess.
“The littlest pawn in this game has been NI, and in particular the food industry. We have been in the front line of Brexit,” he said.
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