The NPA is asking members to contact their MPs to explain how a Brexit no deal could cause long-term damage to the production of pork in the UK.
Following on from its campaign on farrowing crates, which saw members contact their MPs in large numbers to explain why they should not be banned, the NPA said it now needed members help on the ‘very real threat of an October 31 no deal’.
The association is particularly concerned about the Government’s proposals for the tariffs it will impose on imports in the event of a no deal.
For pork, these would amount to only 3-5%, making very little difference to the cost of imports, not just from the EU but from around the world, including the likes of the US, where costs of production are currently around 50p/kg lower than ours. Meanwhile, UK exports of pork to the EU would face tariffs of up to 45%, which would have a big impact, particularly on our ability to export cull sows.
NPA chairman Richard Lister said: “The present set of proposed tariffs from the Government leave our sector completely exposed to unlimited imports and, given the fact that we would lose a big proportion of our exports to the EU, producers would be going out of business very quickly as lower standard imports overwhelm the market.”
With the UK set to leave the EU in four weeks’ time, we are asking members to contact your MPs to raise awareness of this situation.
“We need as many members to rally to this as possible, and outline the shortcomings of this approach,” Mr Lister said.
Members should have received a template letter by now. If you have not received one, please email [email protected]
For further background information, the NPA has updated its no deal guidance briefing, which can be found here