The agri-food industry in NI must be part of a customs union with the EU after Brexit, and have a deep relationship with the EU single market, if there is to be frictionless trade after the UK leaves the EU.

Outlining the position at a KPMG/Irish Farmers Journal Agribusiness report launch held in Belfast this week, Fane Valley chief Trevor Lockhart, who is also the chair of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in NI, said that he saw Brexit as more of a threat than an opportunity at present.

Fundamentally, the Brexit issue has come down to a debate between staying in a customs arrangement, thereby maintaining access to EU markets, or being outside the EU, which means the UK could strike trade deals with whoever it wants.

No evidence

“There is not one shred of evidence that trading as a third country (outside the EU) trumps what we have today as part of the EU. Look at the Republic of Ireland out in China last week. People tell us we can’t do trade now – the notion is nonsense. The problem is that we have not had an export strategy from London,” said Lockhart.

On the suggestion that Brexit will lead to less red tape and bureaucracy for farmers and industry, he maintained that those who believe that will be “sadly disappointed”. Instead, he warned that the industry must be careful that it doesn’t get burdened with a new set of “super standards” after Brexit.

Growth

During a question-and-answer session, the Fane Valley chief was also asked about the Going for Growth strategy devised by the Agri-Food Strategy Board (of which he was a member), that reported in 2013.

On the big ticket items such as sustainable land management, a livestock genetics database and a new marketing body to promote NI food, he said it was “hugely disappointing and immensely frustrating” that they haven’t yet been delivered.

He was also questioned about competition among retailers for market share in Britain. He believes this will inevitably drive more consolidation in processing, and ultimately more consolidation at farm level. “The only safe territory outside of that is if you have something unique,” said Lockhart.

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