The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has called on the government to ensure that the UK can deliver continued high standards at competitive consumer prices post-Brexit.
The FDF, which represents the food and manufacturing industry, has set out a series of recommendations to the government ahead of January 31, the date the UK is set to formally leave the EU.
Called Global Britain: Trade Policy for a World Class Food, Drink and Agricultural Industry, the paper was developed by the cross-sectoral Food and Drink Industry Brexit Roundtable.
Key recommendations set out in the paper include: accommodating rules of origin for food and drink; giving business time to adapt to changes in “competitive positioning”; encouraging job creation and value addition by “prioritising agri-food”; and retaining the UK’s ability to “deliver high standards at competitive consumer prices”.
The announcement follows comments from chancellor of the exchequer Sajid Javid that the UK would not pursue alignment with either the single market or the customs union post-Brexit last week.
FDF chief executive Ian Wright said: “The food and drink industry is absolutely committed to working with government and the devolved administrations on the development of more detailed plans and practical solutions for our vital industry as we leave the EU.
“No industry is more uniquely placed to deliver the benefits of trade to every UK community. Together our supply chain produces, packages, distributes and sells a wide range of food and drink at every price point, more than ever before, in every corner of the UK.”
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