A NO DEAL BREXIT THREATENS THE UK'S FOOD SECURITY AND WILL LEAD TO HIGHER PRICES AND EMPTY SHELVES IN THE SHORT TERM, RETAILERS ARE WARNING. SAINSBURY'S, ASDA AND MCDONALD'S ARE AMONG THOSE WARNING STOCKPILING FRESH FOOD IS IMPOSSIBLE AND THAT THE UK IS VERY RELIANT ON THE EU FOR PRODUCE. THE WARNING COMES IN A LETTER FROM THE BRITISH RETAIL CONSORTIUM AND IS SIGNED BY SEVERAL OF THE MAJOR FOOD RETAILERS. IT COMES AHEAD OF CRUCIAL VOTES IN PARLIAMENT ON TUESDAY. RETAILERS HAVE TO TAKE ME THAT THEY FEAR SHELVES WOULD BE EMPTY IF THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTIONS TO SUPPLIES. THE LETTER FROM THE RETAILERS, AND SEEN BY THE BBC, SAYS THERE WILL BE "SIGNIFICANT RISKS" TO MAINTAINING THE CHOICE, QUALITY AND SHELF LIFE OF FOOD. " MANUFACTURERS IN THE UK EXPECT TO FACE DELAYS IN COMPONENTS COMING ACROSS THE BORDER. THE UK WOULD BE FREE TO SET ITS OWN IMMIGRATION CONTROLS. HOWEVER SOME UK PROFESSIONAL WORKING IN THE EU AND UK EXPATS COULD FACE UNCERTAINTY UNTIL THEIR STATUS WAS CLARIFIED. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS BEEN THAT EVEN IN A NO-DEAL SCENARIO, UK TRAVERS ARE NOT HAVING A VISA FOR SHORT VISITS OR UP TO 90 DAYS. THE BORDER BETWEEN NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC WOULD BECOME AN EXTERNAL FOR THE EU WITH CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION CONTROLS, HOW AND WHERE ANY CHECKS WOULD BE MADE IS NOT CLEAR. SOME LEAVE SUPPORTERS THINK THAT LEAVING WITHOUT A DEAL WOULD BE POSITIVE IF THE RIGHT PREPARATIONS WERE MADE. THEY SAY CRITICISM IS SCAREMONGERING AND ANY SHORT TERM ON WOULD BE FOR LONG TERM GAIN. BUT CRITICS - INCLUDING BOTH BREXIT SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS - SAY THAT LEAVING WITHOUT A DEAL WOULD BE A DISASTER FOR THE UK: DRIVING UP FOOD PRICES, LEADING TO SHORTAGES AND GOODS AND GRIDLOCK ON SOME ROADS IN THE SOUTH EAST RESULTING FROM EXTRA BORDER CHECKS. THE LETTER USES THE GOVERNMENT'S OWN ESTIMATE THAT FREIGHT THROUGH CALAIS MAY FALL 87% FROM CURRENT LEVELS, THREATENING THE AVAILABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF MANY PRODUCTS. IT EXPRESSES WORRY OVER TARIFFS, WITH ONLY 10% OF THE UK'S FOOD IMPORTS CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) RULES. IF THE UK WERE TO REPLY TO WTO RULES, THE RETAILERS WARN THAT WOULD "GREATLY INCREASE IMPORT COSTS THAT WOULD IN TURN PUT UPWARD PRESSURE ON FOOD PRICES" LEADING TO SHORTAGES OF GOODS AND GRIDLOCK ON SOME ROADS IN THE SOUTH EAST RESULTING FROM EXTRA BORDER CHECKS. THE LETTER USES THE OWN ESTIMATE THAT FREIGHT THROUGH CALAIS MAY FALL 87% FROM CURRENT LEVELS, THREATENING THE AVAILABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF MANY PRODUCTS. IT EXPRESSES WORRY OVER TARIFFS, WITH ONLY 10% OF THE UK'S FOOD IMPORTS CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) RULES. IF THE UK WERE TO REPLY TO WTO RULES, THE RETAILERS WARN THAT WOULD "GREATLY INCREASE IMPORT COSTS THAT WOULD IN TURN PUT UPWARD PRESSURE ON FOOD PRICES" LEADING TO SHORTAGES OF GOODS AND GRIDLOCK ON SOME ROADS IN THE SOUTH EAST RESULTING FROM EXTRA BORDER CHECKS. THE LETTER USES THE OWN ESTIMATE THAT FREIGHT THROUGH CALAIS MAY FALL 87% FROM CURRENT LEVELS, THREATENING THE AVAILABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF MANY PRODUCTS. IT EXPRESSES WORRY OVER TARIFFS, WITH ONLY 10% OF THE UK'S FOOD IMPORTS CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) RULES. IF THE UK WERE TO REPLY TO WTO RULES, THE RETAILERS WARN THAT WOULD "GREATLY INCREASE IMPORT COSTS THAT WOULD IN TURN PUT UPWARD PRESSURE ON FOOD PRICES" IT EXPRESSES WORRY OVER TARIFFS, WITH ONLY 10% OF THE UK'S FOOD IMPORTS CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) RULES. IF THE UK WERE TO REPLY TO WTO RULES, THE RETAILERS WARN THAT WOULD "GREATLY INCREASE IMPORT COSTS THAT WOULD IN TURN PUT UPWARD PRESSURE ON FOOD PRICES" IT EXPRESSES WORRY OVER TARIFFS, WITH ONLY 10% OF THE UK'S FOOD IMPORTS CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) RULES. IF THE UK WERE TO REPLY TO WTO RULES, THE RETAILERS WARN THAT WOULD "GREATLY INCREASE IMPORT COSTS THAT WOULD IN TURN PUT UPWARD PRESSURE ON FOOD PRICES"
↧