'UK - EU agreement is huge boost for farmers'
The need for increased identity and physical checks, including all the additional paperwork such as export health certificates and phytosanitary certificates have all contributed to long queues with produce sat at the border, incurring further costs and difficulties for the industry.
When you consider that a third of Welsh lamb and around 90 per cent of Welsh food and drink exports go to the European single market, it's clear to see how fettered access has a huge impact on farmers across the country.
Thankfully, the details of the new agreement penned in May look positive for agriculture across the region.
Firstly, there will be the removal of some routine checks on medium risk fruit and veg and much of the additional paperwork will be reduced or eliminated entirely.
There will also be the removal of some routine checks on animal and plant products, meaning that the UK can again sell raw sausages and burgers to the EU, something the British Meat Processors Association declared could 'bring back the trade that simply ceased after Brexit, due to crippling red tape and tens of millions of extra costs'.
Over all, the NFU has welcomed the agreement, which essentially will mean faster and simpler border checks and reduced export costs.
However, it stressed the need to secure exclusions from dynamic alignments, such as the Precision Breeding Bill, and for protections in the UK's ability to make regulatory decisions as further agreements are made.
Nick Park is director of Cwmbran-based Accountants & Tax Advisors, Green & Co, and a member of the Country Landowners Association (CLA) National Taxation Committee.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
28 minutes ago
- Reuters
Exclusive: Google makes new proposal to stave off EU antitrust fine, document shows
BRUSSELS, July 2 (Reuters) - Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab has proposed fresh changes to its search results in an attempt to fend off growing criticism from rivals, a week before a key meeting that could lead to yet another EU antitrust fine, according to a document seen by Reuters. The U.S. tech giant has been under pressure after being hit in March with European Union antitrust charges of unfairly favouring its own services such as Google Shopping, Google Hotels and Google Flights over competitors. The company, owned by Alphabet, will meet its rivals and the European Commission to discuss its proposals during a July 7-8 workshop in Brussels, the document said. The EU's landmark Digital Markets Act, under which Google has been charged, sets out a list of dos and don'ts for Big Tech aimed at curbing their power and giving rivals more room to compete and consumers more choice. Last week, Google offered to create a box at the top of the search page for a so-called vertical search service (VSS) which would contain links to specialised search engines as well as to hotels, airlines, restaurants and transport services. The latest offer, called Option B, is an alternative to last week's proposal, according to a Google document sent by the Commission to involved parties and seen by Reuters. "Under 'Option B', whenever a VSS box is shown, Google will also show a box that includes free links to suppliers," the document said. The box for suppliers - in essence hotels, restaurants, airlines and travel services - would be below the VSS box, with Google organising the information about the suppliers. Option B "provides suppliers opportunities while not creating a box that can be characterised as a Google VSS", the document said. "We've made hundreds of alterations to our products as part of our DMA compliance," a Google spokesperson said. "While we strive for compliance, we remain genuinely concerned about some of the real world consequences of the DMA, which are leading to worse online products and experiences for Europeans." Google risks a fine as much as 10% of its global annual revenue if found in breach of the DMA.
Daily Mail
33 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EU is 'blocking Britain's bid to join Mediterranean trade zone' despite Keir Starmer's 'reset' with Brussels
The EU is unwilling to allow Britain to join a pan-European trade zone despite Sir Keir Starmer 's efforts to 'reset' the UK's relations with Brussels, it has emerged. The Government recently published a trade strategy that hailed membership of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM) as an 'opportunity' for the UK. Ministers said they would 'consider the benefits' of joining the PEM as part of efforts to boost British exports. The PEM allows for tariff-free trade of some goods from across dozens of countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. But, according to the Financial Times, the European Commission has made clear to Britain that it would not currently support UK membership of the PEM. EU officials said Brussels bosses had decided that the UK joining the PEM was not currently in the bloc's interests, the newspaper reported. The EU is said to fear it would increase the risk of products unfairly qualifying for low-tariff access to the bloc. It comes despite Sir Keir and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently striking a 'reset' deal following a UK-EU summit in London. The Government recently published a trade strategy that hailed membership of the PEM as an 'opportunity' for the UK The agreement, signed in May, covered fishing, trade, defence and energy and represented the biggest change in Britain's relations with the bloc since Brexit. Although the PEM is not exclusively an EU arrangement, trade experts said Britain would need EU co-operation to join because it would require a rewriting of the post-Brexit trade deal. Sam Lowe, trade lead at consultancy Flint Global, said: 'For it to be meaningful for the UK, the EU would need to agree to incorporate the PEM rules of origin into the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. 'This gives the EU de facto blocking powers.' David Henig, a former UK trade negotiator now at the ECIPE think-tank, said: 'The EU isn't united on the importance of the UK reset and issues like PEM can easily be caught up in this even though technically straightforward. 'The UK Government is going to have to work hard in London and Brussels to build momentum.' Although they have left the door open to joining the PEM, the Prime Minister has repeatedly ruled out rejoining the EU's single market or customs union. A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government has secured a new agreement with the EU to support British businesses and jobs and put more money in people's pockets. 'We have also published a new Trade Strategy setting out how we will boost trade further. 'We aren't going to provide a running commentary on our ongoing discussions with the EU.'
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Reform UK hires ex-Tory MP who was suspended for using racist language
Reform UK has hired a former Conservative MP who was suspended for using the N-word. Anne Marie Morris, who had the whip withdrawn by Theresa May in 2017 for using the term in a debate about Brexit, will lead Reform's social care policy. She is one of several ex-Tories who have defected to Nigel Farage's party. Morris had used the phrase '[N-word] in the woodpile' in an event at the East India Club, and apologised after the remarks came to light. She had the whip returned to her six months later – one day before a crucial Brexit vote for the then-government. At the time, Morris said: 'I would like to take this opportunity to apologise again for using such inappropriate and offensive language. It was a mistake and I regret it unreservedly.' She served for 14 years as an MP for Newton Abbot, and lost the Tory whip again in 2022 after rebelling to back a Labour move in parliament to cut VAT on energy bills. Other former Conservative MPs to have joined Reform include Lee Anderson, Ross Thomson, Andrea Jenkyns, Marco Longhi and Ann Widdecombe. There remains speculation that Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, could join the party, after her husband, Rael Braverman, became a member. After her defection, Morris said: 'The country is in a desperate position. I believe now it is Reform UK that offers the vision and leadership Britain so badly needs. I want to play my part in delivering that vision.' David Bull, the new chair of Reform, said he was delighted to welcome Morris. 'She brings a wealth of experience with her and will be a crucial part in developing the party's social care policy as we look to build our policy platform ahead of the next general election,' he said. 'Anne Marie is just one of many who realise that Reform UK is the only party that can stop this damaging Labour government in its tracks.' Reform's manifesto at the last election had a policy on social care of a royal commission and said a national plan was critical for a sustainable social care system. It said: 'The sector needs flexibility, tax incentives, VAT breaks and less waste. Simplify social care through a single funding stream, instead of the split between NHS and local authorities. More funding will be needed when a national plan is agreed.'
