A report by The Andersons Centre published on 29 January, commissioned by CropLife UK, shows that a badly negotiated new Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement with the EU could wipe out 10% of farm income, reducing UK food production across key staples such as wheat and potatoes, and fresh produce including apples, berries and leafy greens.
This assessment of the impact if the UK immediately followed post-Brexit EU decisions on Plant Protection Products (PPPs) underlines the necessity of a well managed transition process. The Andersons Centre considered the possible loss of crop protection tools if post-Brexit EU decisions on PPPs immediately override legitimate GB decisions taking during the same period. This covered differences in:
CropLife UK CEO, Dave Bench, said “The Andersons Centre report is an important piece of evidence. We support the UK Government’s aim to seek an SPS Agreement with the EU that will reduce trade frictions. But it is important to understand the costs and consequences of different approaches before entering into an SPS deal. This report shows how damaging a badly done deal could be. We want to support the UK Government to reach a deal that ensures minimal disruption for British farmers and consumers.”