Food for thought
22 Oct 2016
Nick Clegg's third Brexit Challenge paper has been published this week, concentrating this time on "Food, Drink and Brexit", and considering the potential impact of Brexit in areas such as farming and fisheries, as well as food and drink manufacturing. The paper ends with some important questions that need to be addressed as we head towards Brexit, quoted verbatim below:
- How do Ministers intend to bridge the gap between the end of the Article 50 process and the signing of Free Trade Agreement with the EU? Do they accept that a transitional deal is essential?
- Given the need for a smooth transition for farm businesses, how and when will the government consult on the design of a comprehensive UK agricultural policy?
- Will the government guarantee the right of EU workers, who are essential to the production of food in the UK, to stay after the UK leaves the EU?
- How will the UK seek to determine its share of the Tariff Rate Quotas that currently guarantee low-cost imports of key food products?
- How will the UK's international obligations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea affect its ability to renegotiate fishing quotas?
- Will the UK limit access to its waters for foreign fleets? Will fishing rights be traded for other benefits?
- Will government undertake to protect UK farmers from cheap food imports produced to lower standards?
- Will existing EU food and drink regulations be copied in their entirety into UK law? What role will parliament have in scrutinising this process?
- Will new EU food and drink regulations be automatically incorporated into UK law? If so, how does this constitute 'taking back control?' If not, how will the government prevent the development of non-tariff barriers to trade?
- What will happen to CAP payments after 2020? How will the government ensure that UK farming retains its competitive position vis-à-vis highly subsidised EU producers?
- Will a future system of farming subsidies be fully devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? If so, how will Ministers ensure a level playing field between the nations of the UK?
- How is it possible for Ireland to fulfil its legal obligations under the EU Customs Union without establishing a hard border between North and South? How will the government protect integrated businesses operating on both sides of the Irish border?