Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the food and drink industry.

Extensive work to prepare for a no-deal scenario has been under way for over two years and the Government is taking necessary steps to ensure the country continues to operate as smoothly as possible from the day the UK leaves the EU.

Alongside the publication of technical notices, the Government has significantly increased engagement with industry in recent months so that businesses better understand the steps they need to take in the event of a no deal.

The Government has well-established ways of working with the food industry on food supply chain issues and we are using these to support preparations for leaving the EU. This includes working with Defra’s long established Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group (FCELG), which allows Government and industry to work together to plan for and respond to any food supply disruption.

Defra regularly meets with trade associations and businesses covering the full spectrum of food and drink production, to explore the operational and technical aspects of EU withdrawal, as well as businesses’ individual concerns.

Defra will continue to work closely with food industry stakeholders to understand the impacts of a no deal scenario on the food and drink industry, as well as any contingency planning measures being taken by industry. Close collaboration between Government and industry will be essential to plan for, respond to, and mitigate any potential disruption.