British chips, cakes and other staples at risk of being illegal | UK | News
Bakery chips, crisps and cakes already in the supply chain could become unsellable under new post-Brexit food trade rules negotiated with Brussels, industry leaders have warned.
Ministers are working on a food and drinks trade deal with the EU that promises to ease costs and red tape for exporters; But the deal would trigger at least 400 regulatory changes in the food sector and could make it illegal to sell already grown, frozen or stored produce if they were produced using pesticides, which the EU has since banned.
Karen Betts, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation, reportedly warned that the consequences could be severe for businesses caught in the middle of the supply chain.
“If you look at what potatoes go into oven chips or chips, you’ll see there’s a three-year cycle from the time your potato is planted until it appears in the oven chip in the supermarket freezer,” he said. “So if your potato has been grown using a pesticide that is not approved by the EU, then it will not be allowed to be sold when it becomes available in supermarkets, potentially within three years.”
Why might British cakes be affected by EU rules?
The same problem applies to baked goods. Harvested using a pesticide that Brussels later declared illegal, the grain has already been stored for a year, then milled and recapped, and finally turned into a cake.
“Businesses will need to change their supply chain as this pesticide is no longer approved,” Betts is understood to have said.
How many EU regulatory changes are coming?
Closer alignment with the EU has exposed the regulatory gap that has formed in the years since Brexit. Industry bodies have reportedly counted more than 400 separate changes that businesses in the food and beverage industry must adopt.
“Food laws did not change when we left the EU. [aligning closer] “Together with the EU, we have identified over 400 changes that companies will have to comply with where EU law changes but UK law does not,” Betts told reporters.
Businesses operating mainly in the domestic market face the toughest challenges; Many will now find themselves significantly left behind, as they have little reason to monitor legislative changes in Brussels. Large companies have also privately expressed serious concerns, although they are better placed to keep abreast of regulatory changes, sources told The Times.
If the agreement is signed, hundreds of laws covering animal welfare will also need to be changed.
What does the food industry want from the government?
The Food and Drink Federation is lobbying ministers to ensure transition periods are included in any agreement and allow food already in the supply chain to continue to be sold legally.
“If we don’t do this, we’re going to end up with a lot of food waste and oven parts being thrown away even though you know they shouldn’t be,” Betts was quoted as saying.
Betts, “after all [and] strategically, “closer alignment with the EU” is the right thing to do.”
When will the EU production agreement be concluded?
Ministers hope to conclude negotiations on the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, which has been discussed since May last year, by the summer. The government will then introduce legislation to incorporate EU rules into UK law.
A government spokesman said: “Our food and drink deal will bring billions to British industry; a smooth transition is critical to unlock this growth. The deal will mean fresher food on more supermarket shelves faster, better export opportunities for our farmers and stronger food security in the future.”
“We are working closely with farmers and producers to give them more information on preparing for the new regulations. We will continue to provide further support once deadlines and processes are clarified.”
