Lords hear evidence on farming, food and trade post-Brexit
The House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee will continue its inquiry into the implications of Brexit on UK agriculture with two days of evidence sessions beginning on Tuesday 7 February. The Committee will hear from farmers, food processing organisations and leading academics.
At 11:00am on Tuesday 7 February and the Committee will speak to:
- Joseph McMahon, Professor and Dean of the Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin
- Alan Matthews, Professor Emeritus of European Agricultural Policy, Trinity College Dublin
The Professors will offer their insights on what challenges the UK will face when negotiating a comprehensive free trade agreement in agricultural goods and food with the EU, whether there are particular challenges for agriculture and food under WTO rules and the extent to which leaving the EU could affect standards in the agri-food sector.
At 10:30am on Wednesday 8 February the Committee will speak to:
- Guy Smith, Deputy President, NFU
- Wesley Aston, Chief Executive Officer, Ulster Farmers Union
The witnesses will be questioned on topics including whether they would like to see the Common Agricultural Policy subsidies replaced by UK subsidies and what steps the Government will need to take to ensure that UK farmers are competitive in the global market.
At 11:45am on Wednesday 8 February the Committee will speak to:
- Peter Hardwick, Head of Exports, AHDB
- Ian Wright, Director General, FDF
- Jon Woolven, Strategy and Innovation Director, Institute of Grocery Distribution
This session will cover the implications of Brexit for the food and agriculture supply chain, the regulatory framework for agri-foods and the impact of new or more comprehensive customs checks, certification requirements and other non-tariff barriers.
The evidence sessions will start at 11:00am on Tuesday 7 February and 10:30am on Wednesday 8 February, in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.
