UK Food Exports to EU Fall Over One Third

British food and drink exports to the European Union have declined by more than a third since Brexit, according to an analysis of HM Revenue & Customs data by the National Farmers’ Union. The collapse is most pronounced in sugar exports, which fell 70%, and horticultural exports, including Scottish seed potatoes, which dropped over 50% due to a ban on equivalent standards.

Andy Burnham indicated that the Labour government is reconsidering previous red lines on EU membership to mitigate economic damage estimated at up to £240bn. He noted that Scottish salmon faces a 100% document check rate, costing approximately £100m in lost exports, while shellfish from Wales remain banned. Burnham highlighted that minor paperwork delays can lead to the destruction of entire truckloads of fresh products.

While a deal to ease sanitary and phytosanitary checks was largely agreed upon in May for implementation next summer, the National Farmers’ Union continues to lobby for transition arrangements. The organization is seeking to protect crops grown with precision breeding technologies not yet approved in the EU to ensure food resilience against extreme weather and pests.