With negotiations on a future trading relationship between the EU and UK in the balance, the agriculture committee of the European Parliament discussed the implications of Brexit on Monday.

Members received presentations from president European Liaison Committee for Agricultural and Agri Food Trade (CELCAA) Marcel van der Vliet; chair of Food Drink Europe (FDE) competitiveness committee Paul Kelly; director Food Drink Ireland and IFA president Tim Cullinan; member of the COPA (the EU Farm organisations umbrella body) presidium.

Marcel van der Vliet asked that a pragmatic approach be adopted by customs officials when the new trading arrangements come into place on 1 January.

Keeping farmers and traders in the game

Paul Kelly outlined how the cost of a no-deal Brexit would be €6bn to the EU food and drink industry, with €1.5bn of that carried by Ireland - beef and cheese accounting for almost €1.2bn of this.

He suggested that tariffs on imports, of which 20% are retained by the member state, are recycled to “keep farmers and traders in the game”.

He also called for a rapid deployment of the €5bn EU Brexit fund and, as agri food is the most exposed, it had to be prioritised. He advised on a pragmatic approach on things such as green lands for food in transit and self-declarations on rules of origin should be accepted.

Paul Kelly warned that non-tariff barriers made increased costs inevitable and, in turn, the whole chain from farmers through to consumers would be poorer as a result.

IFA president Tim Cullinan also participated as one of the Copa Cogeca vice-presidents. He warned of Armageddon for Irish farmers that would require a huge chunk of the €5bn Brexit fund, while recognising the cost to the EU wine industry and other exporters from Netherlands, Denmark and Germany in particular.

Stop Mercosur

The IFA president also endorsed the contribution by Luke Ming Flanagan MEP to the debate calling for scrapping of the trade deal agreed with Mercosur which gives enhanced access for South American beef to EU markets.

Tim Cullinan also advised suspension of all beef imports from third countries and requested more funding for direct shipping from Ireland to France.

He called for trade on the island of Ireland to continue unimpeded, but wanted checks on product entering Northern Ireland from Britain to ensured standards were upheld for product entering the EU market.