Britain will face some food shortages in a no-deal Brexit: trade body

[snoop1130]

Britain will face some food shortages in a no-deal Brexit: trade body

By Kate Holton

 

A shopper browses at a vegetable market, in London, Britain February 3, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - A disorderly no-deal Brexit would disrupt some food supplies for weeks or months if delays at ports leave fresh produce rotting in trucks, the industry’s trade body warned on Wednesday.

 

Retailers such as Tesco (TSCO.L) have warned that leaving the European Union on October 31 without a trade deal would be hugely problematic for the industry as much of the fresh produce is imported and warehouses are stocked full ahead of Christmas.

 

Ahead of the original Brexit deadline of March 29, supermarkets and retailers worked with suppliers to increase stocks of dried goods including pasta, bottled water and toilet paper.

 

They have warned however that fresh fruit and vegetables, which have a short shelf-life of only a few days, cannot be stored and that customs checks at Britain’s biggest port of Dover could lead to delays for arrivals.

 

The industry has also tested different ports to avoid the main route of Dover-Calais while pharmaceutical companies have reserved space on airlines to fly in supplies if needed.

 

“The food sector is absolutely clear that a no-deal exit is a disastrous outcome for us,” the Food and Drink Federation’s Chief Operating Officer Tim Rycroft told BBC Radio.

 

“There will be selective shortages and they will to some extent be random because it depends on which trucks get through and which don’t. We think there will be some serious disruption and it will go on for weeks or months after our exit.”

 

The trade body has urged the government to waive some competition rules to allow retailers and suppliers to be able to work together to provide the most effective coverage for the country in such a situation.

 

Rycroft said the industry had repeatedly asked the government to provide a guarantee that companies would not be fined by the regulator for engaging in anti-competitive behavior.

 

“In the event of no-deal disruption, if the government wants the food supply chain to work together to tackle likely shortages - to decide where to prioritize shipments - they will have to provide cast-iron written reassurances that competition law will not be strictly applied to those discussions,” Rycroft said.

 

Brexit supporters say there may be short-term disruption from a no-deal exit but that the UK will thrive if cut free from what they cast as a doomed experiment in integration that has led to Europe falling behind China and the United States.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-07

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[anterian]

There will not be a shortage of food, there could well be a shortage of choice.

[GreasyFingers]

If the Brits are anything like the the Aussies the diet will help them look better.

[Jip99]

Brilliant!

 

 

1st November, just in time for my pre-Xmas diet.

 

 

Talking of which, will we still get turkeys, or should I panic buy now ?  I have put away 41 lires of milk, 15 kilos of sugar, 17 chickens, 2 hams, half a pig, 48 tins of carrots, similar amount of tinned potatoes and 32 2kg bags of frozen crinkle cut chips.......... and a couple Xmas puddings.........  just in case......... oh! ------ and 2 dozen boxes of candles in case of power cuts.

[HeyHeyHey]

We love you Boris! ???? https://www.theweek.co.uk/96429/ten-fattest-countries-in-europe

 

UK is third most obese country in Europe. Shortage of food is needed to destroy the fat asses.

 

Boris the Great - who brings strength and fitness to the UK ????

[Chelseafan]

4 minutes ago, Brigand said:

Total nonsense and Project Fear ... the worst that can happen WTO rules which is about 4% higher than current deal. So much BS being spilled everywhere ... just go Canada +++ with a few tweaks (like NI backstop rubbish gone as can so it with tech if they really want) and all will be fine. Bunch of <deleted> morons on this one really and just handbags and egos getting in the way at the moment. 

As I've mentioned before, I am a buyer for a large retailer. Buying the stock isn't the issue. Getting it here and storing it is the biggest headache.

 

I'll give you an example, a truck driver bringing in potatoes (there's not enough grown in the UK to support the population) can make 5-6 trips a week between the Netherlands and the UK. If hard borders come into force then he is going to be delayed and may only be able to do 2-3 trips a week so less availability, also there are a finite amount of trucks so he is now in a position to put his price up (supply and demand) which then gets loaded onto the cost of goods. Prices go up

 

Storage is a big problem especially as our depots will be full of christmas items. If we were to buy in beforehand where the hell are we going to store the product? not only that but we are holding stock that isn't being sold which presents a cashflow issue.

 

Just a couple of the many issues this is going to cause.

 

[ratcatcher]

Visions of post WW2, rationing, bread and dripping, pig bins by the kerb. 

Never mind Bulldog Boris will bring you through.

[bannork]

If all the British ex-pats whose wives have farms contribute one sack of milled rice per household we could hopefully help them avoid starvation.  In addition, Thais could teach them how to make fermented fish and survive the bitter winter.

[stevenl]

6 minutes ago, Brigand said:

Well, yes, wasn't exactly expecting anything positive from you or the other lefty fear mongers on here that like to be supercilious and control content on the forum. Funny how you lot always throw in a personal attack instead of just debating the issue. Try promoting your stance/argument and being civil instead of just trying to attack someone with low/cheap shots.  

Yes, all those business representatives that are issuing warnings are known as extreme lefties.

 

Btw, you may want to look at your post again and consider debating the issue.

[blazes]

 

As Boris told us some while back, we may have to do without our Mars Bars for a while....

[OJAS]

14 hours ago, Brigand said:

Total nonsense and Project Fear ... the worst that can happen WTO rules which is about 4% higher than current deal. So much BS being spilled everywhere ... just go Canada +++ with a few tweaks (like NI backstop rubbish gone as can so it with tech if they really want) and all will be fine. Bunch of <deleted> morons on this one really and just handbags and egos getting in the way at the moment. 

Yep, all too reminiscent of the hysterical "Millennium Bug" scaremongering that was being whipped up 20 years ago, I think. Those of us with sufficiently long memories can well recall what happened (or rather didn't) at the stroke of midnight on 31st December 1999/1st January 2000.

[Loiner]

 
 
Storage is a big problem especially as our depots will be full of christmas items. If we were to buy in beforehand where the hell are we going to store the product? not only that but we are holding stock that isn't being sold which presents a cashflow issue.
 

So are we going to have shortages because of Brexit or Christmas?
Either choice is BS because apparently all the food is being hoarded in the supermarket warehouses.

[Handsome Gardener]

14 hours ago, Brigand said:

Total nonsense and Project Fear ... the worst that can happen WTO rules which is about 4% higher than current deal. So much BS being spilled everywhere ... just go Canada +++ with a few tweaks (like NI backstop rubbish gone as can so it with tech if they really want) and all will be fine. Bunch of <deleted> morons on this one really and just handbags and egos getting in the way at the moment. 

Heres another one - a brexiteer who knows more about an industry than the industries trade body ! Why would they lie f.fs ? They want this chaos right ? What are your credentials to rubbish this ? You're in the trade correct ?

 

With border checks items WILL be held up at customs, you know that right ? new certification has to be put in place you know that right ? 

 

Same for the car industry ? the farmers industry ? the financial industry ? or any other industry you can think of - all 'project fear' right - brexiteers know better ! 

 

Explain how the tech border works please - as the intelligence on that (but that won't be as good as yours granted) have said it is nowhere near ready. Could you run it past me how it will actually work

[remobb]

Good. Buy British, support our farmers and growers. You could also grow your own. Don't NEED foreign food, we just want it. So change your ways. We did ok before the EU.

[JonnyF]

15 minutes ago, OJAS said:

Yep, all too reminiscent of the hysterical "Millennium Bug" scaremongering that was being whipped up 20 years ago, I think. Those of us with sufficiently long memories can well recall what happened (or rather didn't) at the stroke of midnight on 31st December 1999/1st January 2000.

I was a developer for a software house that developed ERP systems at that time. There was a lot of work that went into ensuring that there were relatively few issues with our systems but it was ultimately successful.

 

Your analogy is a good one though, it's a lot like Brexit. The issues are real and need to be addressed but they are being hugely exaggerated by some people. If correct planning and preparation is done there will be very few serious issues.

 

The main difference between the two is that everyone was on the same side preparing for the "millennium bug" whereas with Brexit we have the EU trying to screw us over and Remainers hoping we fail so they can say I told You So. However, it is the Leavers with the courage and conviction to make this work despite all the negativity, scheming and fearmongering of Remainers. 

[Handsome Gardener]

5 minutes ago, Loiner said:

So are we going to have shortages because of Brexit or Christmas?
Either choice is BS because apparently all the food is being hoarded in the supermarket warehouses.

and how long does food last ?

 

How can you not see they are related ? It even spells it out in the article

 

There also isn't the warehouse space to do the stockpiling that will be needed - thus more logistical problems but hang on, all made up right ? 'Project Fear' - everyones lying 

[evadgib]

It's AUGUST ????

[Handsome Gardener]

6 minutes ago, remobb said:

Good. Buy British, support our farmers and growers. You could also grow your own. Don't NEED foreign food, we just want it. So change your ways. We did ok before the EU.

Support our farmers ? Like the EU did to the tune of billions a year ? - all industries are against Brexit but the farmers have the most to lose. 

 

 

 

[stephenterry]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I was a developer for a software house that developed ERP systems at that time. There was a lot of work that went into ensuring that there were relatively few issues with our systems but it was ultimately successful.

 

Your analogy is a good one though, it's a lot like Brexit. The issues are real and need to be addressed but they are being hugely exaggerated by some people. If correct planning and preparation is done there will be very few serious issues.

 

The main difference between the two is that everyone was on the same side preparing for the "millennium bug" whereas with Brexit we have the EU trying to screw us over and Remainers hoping we fail so they can say I told You So. However, it is the Leavers with the courage and conviction to make this work despite all the negativity, scheming and fearmongering of Remainers. 

I haven't read ANY Leaver who has an opinion other than leave. That's as far as it gets. No Leaver has been able to demonstrate, or show, or refer to, any workable UK plan going forward. 

 

The ONLY solution Johnson has is to (negatively) prepare for a no deal, which means that they have little clue how to deal with Brexit going forward. In which case, the Remainers have a justifiable right to challenge government as is their democratic right.  

[gmac]

6 minutes ago, stephenterry said:

I haven't read ANY Leaver who has an opinion other than leave. That's as far as it gets. No Leaver has been able to demonstrate, or show, or refer to, any workable UK plan going forward. 

 

The ONLY solution Johnson has is to (negatively) prepare for a no deal, which means that they have little clue how to deal with Brexit going forward. In which case, the Remainers have a justifiable right to challenge government as is their democratic right.  

As part of the Government the Remainers collectively agreed to leave by sanctioning the referendum, presumably because in their deluded little brains they believed that the public would never vote to leave.  Now they have no justifiable right at all to challenge their own decision and should be doing everything to make Brexit happen. 

 

Instead of that they have effectively hamstrung the Government for the last 3 years doing all they can to reverse a decision already made.  Our Government is there to Govern the country for all our benefit, not to argue amongst themselves and completely lose sight of what they were elected to do in the first place.

 

Why should any leaver have opinion other than leave?  The job of the public was to vote, not deliver the answers, it is the Governments job to carry out result of that vote and have failed miserably thanks to the treachery of Remainers.

[joecoolfrog]

14 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

As I've mentioned before, I am a buyer for a large retailer. Buying the stock isn't the issue. Getting it here and storing it is the biggest headache.

 

I'll give you an example, a truck driver bringing in potatoes (there's not enough grown in the UK to support the population) can make 5-6 trips a week between the Netherlands and the UK. If hard borders come into force then he is going to be delayed and may only be able to do 2-3 trips a week so less availability, also there are a finite amount of trucks so he is now in a position to put his price up (supply and demand) which then gets loaded onto the cost of goods. Prices go up

 

Storage is a big problem especially as our depots will be full of christmas items. If we were to buy in beforehand where the hell are we going to store the product? not only that but we are holding stock that isn't being sold which presents a cashflow issue.

 

Just a couple of the many issues this is going to cause.

 

Yes but that only happens in reality , dont you know that nothing bad can happen in Brexit fantasy land.

[bert bloggs]

4 minutes ago, joecoolfrog said:

Yes but that only happens in reality , dont you know that nothing bad can happen in Brexit fantasy land.

You mean like the four horsesmen of the apocalypse riding in to destroy us all ,in Remainer fantasy land?

[stephenterry]

2 minutes ago, gmac said:

As part of the Government the Remainers collectively agreed to leave by sanctioning the referendum, presumably because in their deluded little brains they believed that the public would never vote to leave.  Now they have no justifiable right at all to challenge their own decision and should be doing everything to make Brexit happen. 

 

Instead of that they have effectively hamstrung the Government for the last 3 years doing all they can to reverse a decision already made.  Our Government is there to Govern the country for all our benefit, not to argue amongst themselves and completely lose sight of what they were elected to do in the first place.

 

Why should any leaver have opinion other than leave?  The job of the public was to vote, not deliver the answers, it is the Governments job to carry out result of that vote and have failed miserably thanks to the treachery of Remainers.

Remainers have every right to challenge the government, as is their democratic right. And the reason they're doing exactly that is because, in their opinion based on countless facts, figures, forecasts and business decisions, Brexit would not benefit Britain.

 

As is the case with the Leavers, but as far as it goes, that's the ONLY aim, not to propose how Brexit would succeed going forward. It really is about time Leavers got their act together and start lobbying government to PRODUCE a workable plan that would benefit Britain.

 

IF that happens, and it's a very big IF, at least the Remainers would be more willing to respect what the government isn't doing right now, and what it should be doing instead. 

 

[AGareth2]

more project fear!

[stephenterry]

1 minute ago, AGareth2 said:

more project fear!

 

However real and factual that would be in the case of a no-deal exit.  

[Loiner]

and how long does food last ?
 
How can you not see they are related ? It even spells it out in the article
 
There also isn't the warehouse space to do the stockpiling that will be needed - thus more logistical problems but hang on, all made up right ? 'Project Fear' - everyones lying 

If warehouses are full there’s no shortages. Stockpiles means there’s plenty in store.

[Loiner]

Support our farmers ? Like the EU did to the tune of billions a year ? - all industries are against Brexit but the farmers have the most to lose. 
 
 
 

It was all OUR contribution cash that partially came back to us.

[juice777]

If the Brits are anything like the the Aussies the diet will help them look better.

With no fresh fruit and vegetables how's that then?

But you are right about a diet could be needed for most of us

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[juice777]

Total nonsense and Project Fear ... the worst that can happen WTO rules which is about 4% higher than current deal. So much BS being spilled everywhere ... just go Canada +++ with a few tweaks (like NI backstop rubbish gone as can so it with tech if they really want) and all will be fine. Bunch of morons on this one really and just handbags and egos getting in the way at the moment. 

We can't go on WTO rules straight away,

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[juice777]

Well, yes, wasn't exactly expecting anything positive from you or the other lefty fear mongers on here that like to be supercilious and control content on the forum. Funny how you lot always throw in a personal attack instead of just debating the issue. Try promoting your stance/argument and being civil instead of just trying to attack someone with low/cheap shots.  

It's hard not to Throw in personal Attacks with what is about to happen to the UK.Wait till oct the 31st and see what happens then you should all hang your head in shame.

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