The association, which represents European compound feed manufacturers, called for collaborative efforts between the UK and the EU to avoid any disruption in agricultural trade from the start of the formal Brexit negotiations.
FEFAC was commenting as the UK formally triggered Brexit today with a letter to the European Council from UK PM, Theresa May, declaring its intention to leave the EU; that official notification initiated the withdrawal process under Article 50 of the Treaty of the EU.
FEFAC stressed the need to implement effective safeguard measures during the entire negotiation period “to maintain fully functioning and accessible agricultural markets, in the interest of all European consumers, livestock farmers and market partners.”
Dynamic, competitive UK livestock sector
Also reacting to invocation of Article 50, the UK’s Agri-Brexit Coalition, a newly formed alliance founded by eight organizations and trade associations involved in the UK agribusiness sectors, said it aims to play an active and informed role in helping the UK government achieve the objective of the best deal for the UK.
Asked whether agriculture is a key priority in the Brexit negotiations, chief executive of the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) and coordinator of that coalition, David Caffall, told us previously.
“A key driver in forming the coalition has been to ensure that the specific issues pertinent across the supply industry are raised, with a strong united voice, to UK governments – both at UK and devolved levels.”
Action to stimulate a dynamic, competitive UK livestock sector is another objective of the coalition:
“Looking forward, we believe improved efficiency and self-sufficiency across the whole farming sector are important, and recognize this is especially important in the livestock sector,” said Caffall.
Meanwhile, EU Council President, Donald Tusk, speaking following the UK notification, struck a somewhat pessimistic tone: “Both I and the Commission have a strong mandate to protect the interests of the EU-27. There is nothing to win in this process, and I am talking about both sides. In essence, this is about damage control.”