Quotes
All the Tories were interested in was soundbites and sabre-rattling, not British business.”
He added
If you are large enough you can mitigate the increased costs because the cost of the paperwork for one pallet of cheese can be spread across 100 pallets. It will also benefit all the customers in the EU because they can get a local delivery rate,
he addedIt is good news but we could have had this from day one. It is just such a shame it has taken so long, we could have had this in 2020,
he saidThey were exporting to themselves but it still meant the UK was losing out. They have to pay 5% of corporate tax and 20% VAT to the Germans and the transport costs have to be paid to the Dutch, so margins are tight. This deal potentially does away with that but we have to wait to see if it includes no checks for orders from individual customers,
he said
We shouldn't be rule takers from the European Union, we shouldn't be selling off our fishing industry to the European Union, and we should make sure no new money is being sent off to the EU."
But the assurances were not enough for some, with Conservative Party member of parliament and shadow secretary of state for Scotland Andrew Bowie saying on BBC Breakfast
This will really help small business,
he said, noting
The UK has used its independence to reduce levels of ID and physical checks on certain rest-of-world imports, to take a more risk-based approach than the EU.”
The IMTA said
Europe is our single biggest customer, and most of the food and drink we import – from ingredients to finished products – comes from Europe too.”
Karen Betts, the chief executive of the Food & Drink Federation (FDF) said
We have always argued that trade with the EU must be based on equivalency. Despite the benefits this deal brings, full dynamic alignment comes at a significant cost of committing to future EU rules, in which the UK will have little say.”
Tom Bradshaw, the chief executive of the National Farmers Union (NFU), addedWe have concerns that dynamic alignment of UK to EU legislation means loss of the UK’s regulatory independence, especially with regard to our rest of world imports which have benefitted from more proportionate import controls.”
The International Meat Trade Association saidThey didn’t take our sausages in great quantities in the first place, so there’s no win there. And actually, even burgers and a lot of the foods that we have in this country, they don’t eat in Europe, not on a big scale. So I don’t see that we’ve gained anything.”
Mr Emmanuel-Jones saidFrance, Italy and Spain, they’re very protective towards their own food culture. Apart from whisky, I can’t see that many of our foods are accepted in those sort of countries.”
Mr Emmanuel-Jones saidFood security is national security; food regulation should not be wholly outsourced to the EU, it is important that the UK retains some material influence in this area.”
It addedWe’re buying products that are grown in season around the world at the highest possible quality and standards to allow UK consumers to enjoy these things throughout the year.”
Mr Jenney saidIt’s not like just saying ‘Oh I’ll buy it from Europe instead’. It’s not available in Europe ... which is why we source it from around the world.”
Mr Jenney saidA permanent deal to remove unnecessary checks on food and drink exports in both directions is a huge boost; it will cut costs, reduce waste and increase sales,
said Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce
This agreement means that many new border control posts that were built at a cost of over £120m to industry to manage checks that never fully materialized are now likely to become obsolete,
said Richard Ballantyne, chief executive of the British Ports AssociationGovernments on both sides of the channel must continue with an ambitious approach, including a shared commitment to strong employment rights and collective bargaining.”
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) added
Not only does it provide economic benefits, but it also provides new opportunities for critical cultural exchange, which ultimately delivers richer experiences for customers,
she saidSome routine checks on animal and plant products will be removed completely,
it added