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Supply chain transparency needed after Brexit
The UK government must ensure that food producers are part of a transparent supply chain and have access to up-to-date market information after Brexit, the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said.
At present, mandatory price reporting by processors is part of EU law and will be the responsibility of the UK government after Brexit.
“The government has a role not only to ensure market transparency, but also that timely, accurate market information is available to farmers,” said UFU deputy president David Brown.
However, Brown added that future supply chain transparency measures should not be funded from farm support payment budgets.
The comments were made as the UFU responded to a Defra consultation on establishing a UK-based Geographical Indications (GI) scheme for protected food brands after Brexit.
At present, three food products in NI have EU Protected Geographical Indication status, namely Comber New Potatoes, Armagh Bramley Apples and Lough Neagh Eels, while Lough Neagh Pollan has EU Protected Designation of Origin status.
“It is a missed opportunity if we don’t strongly market and promote, both at home and further afield, the high standard of food produced here.
Protected geographical status guarantees a product’s quality and specificity,” Brown said.
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