Trade in sugar post-Brexit inquiry launched

• Inquiry: Trade in food post-Brexit
• Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Demand and supply

The sugar industry encompasses many key interests with varying agendas. With a total import demand of 613,000 tonnes of sugar per annum, the UK supplies 60% of its total demand with domestically grown sugar beet, 15% from EU sugar beet, and the remaining 25% from imported sugar cane.

Current EU policy

Current EU policy is aimed at protecting the sugar beet industry while providing preferential access to raw and refined sugar from LDC countries and countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (‘the ACP'). There are prohibitively high tariffs on sugar cane imports from nations outside of these agreements.

Neil Parish, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said:

“EU regulations currently support farmers growing sugar beet in the UK and give preferential access to less developed markets. As the UK leaves the EU, these regulations will change and the UK may have to look elsewhere for the sugar currently imported from Europe.

“It is important for that less developed countries retain their ability to sell sugar in the UK after we leave the EU, as this has reciprocal benefits for UK consumers and overseas vendors.

“It is vital that domestic growers and importers understand the ramifications for the sugar industry of any potential future trading arrangement.”

Terms of Reference

The Committee wishes to examine how the sugar industry will be affected by Brexit and the options for an optimal trade policy surrounding sugar following-Brexit. The Committee would welcome written submissions which addressed the following questions:

1. What challenges and opportunities will the UK sugar industry face from new trade arrangements with EU countries post-Brexit?
2. How should the deficit in sugar that will accompany the departure from the EU be filled?
3. How can future policy best address trends in the sugar industry such as a falling world price and decreased consumption?
4. What trade policies and agreements could achieve a balance between protecting domestic and infant industry, competitiveness and free trade and supporting the sugar industry in LDC and ACP countries?
5. What are the opportunities for export for the UK sugar beet industry post-Brexit?

Deadline for submissions

Written evidence should be submitted through the trade in sugar post-Brexit inquiry page by Wednesday 21 February 2018. The word limit is 3,000 words. Later submissions will be accepted, but may be too late to inform the first oral evidence hearing. Please send written submissions using the form on the inquiry page.

Diversity

The Committee values diversity and seek to ensure this where possible. We encourage members of underrepresented groups to submit written evidence. We aim to have diverse panels of Select Committee witnesses and ask organisations to bear this in mind if asked to appear.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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