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Impact of no-deal Brexit on UK seafood exports examined

7 October 2019

The International Trade Committee examines the possible impact on UK seafood exports of a no-deal Brexit, in a special one-off session on Tuesday, 8 October.

Witnesses

Tuesday 8 October, Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster

At 9.30am

  • Terri Portmann, Marine Consultant
  • David Jarrad, Director, Shellfish Association of Great Britain
  • Andrew Kuyk CBE, Director General, Provision Trade Federation, representing the UK Seafood Industry Alliance

At 10.30am

  • George Eustice MP, Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
  • Phil Haslam, Director of Operations, Marine Management Organisation
  • Fiona Wright, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Seafish

Around 80% of the fish caught by UK vessels is exported – mainly to other EU countries.The UK currently exports and imports seafood products within the EU Single Market without tariffs or the need for certain paperwork. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, potentially as soon as 31 October, UK seafood exports would be subject to both tariffs and rules requiring each consignment to be documented and to pass through specified entry points (EU Border Inspection Posts).

As an EU member, the UK also currently benefits from the EU's free trade agreements with six of the largest 15 non-EU export countries for UK fish. The Government has so far secured ‘roll-over' of only three of these agreements (those with South Korea, Switzerland and Norway).

In this session, the Committee will examine the practical requirements of exporting in a no-deal scenario. It will hear firstly from seafood industry representatives about the current preferential arrangements for exporting to their main markets, and preparedness of the sector for new documentation requirements and the need for exports to the EU to pass through Border Inspection Posts. The Committee is also expected to consider the potential opportunities and risks for the wider fisheries industry of a no-deal Brexit.

The Committee will then hear from George Eustice MP, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, as well as the Marine Management Organisation (the public body responsible for coastal operations and compliance) and Seafish (a public body which aims to improve efficiency and standards in the industry).The Committee is expected to ask these witnesses for their perspective on the evidence provided by industry and consider any steps that still need to be taken to ensure preparedness for a no-deal Brexit.

Further information

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