Fish and chips at risk from Labour EU reset and 400 new rules | UK | News
Chips could be sent to compost under new EU rules (Image: Getty)
Traditional Fish and Chips could be under threat as post-Brexit rules are considered by the Labor Government. As part of the deal with Eurocrats in Brussels, British Ministers are reportedly considering ways to cut red tape and make trade easier for farmers and food producers.
The deal under consideration would cut red tape as part of the government’s effort to “reset” relations with the trading bloc. But industry groups have reportedly warned that the move could reduce costs for exporters but subject the entire industry to around 400 additional regulations.
Such an arrangement could entail sending potato chips to compost. This is due to proposals affecting all businesses that mean produce already in the ground, grown or frozen and kept for sale can no longer be legally sold.
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Karen Betts, boss of the Food and Drink Federation, an organization that represents the industry, told the Times newspaper: “If you look at potatoes going into oven chips or crisps, there’s a three-year cycle from planting your potato to it appearing in the oven chip in the supermarket freezer.”
He added: “So if your potato has been grown using a pesticide that has not been approved by the EU, then it will not be allowed to be sold when it goes on sale in supermarkets, potentially within three years.”
Government ministers reportedly want to see talks on food and drink standards as part of long-running talks that have been going on since last May. These talks are expected to be completed by this summer.
Labor is hoping to put forward legislation that would pave the way for the UK to adopt a wide range of EU laws without subjecting them to a vote in parliament, as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s desire to “reset” relations with Brussels.
Ms Betts told the Times: “Food laws did not change when we left the EU. [aligning closer] “Together with the EU, we have identified more than 400 changes that companies will have to comply with where EU law has changed while UK law has not.”
Small and medium-sized businesses that characteristically do little business with the European Union are also expected to be affected by the changes. Sources have told media they expect these businesses to be hit the hardest because they are less likely to keep up with changes in complex Brussels laws.
It takes three years from planting potatoes to selling them in the supermarket (Image: Getty)
Ms Betts said: “After all [and] Strategically, “making friends with the EU on some regulations is the right thing to do”, but he said there needed to be a transition period to ensure products already in the supply chain could be sold. He warned that if this did not happen there would be huge amounts of food waste.
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.”
