Import Controls: Food

(asked on 25th February 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the introduction of import controls at UK ports in July 2021 on the price of food.


Answered by
Victoria Prentis Portrait
Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
This question was answered on 5th March 2021

We have well established ways of working with the food industry and across the Government, including with the Devolved Administrations, on preparedness for and response to potential food supply chain disruptions.

We have identified and regularly monitor Category 1 food products which could be affected by the introduction of import controls and the potential impacts, and worked closely with the industry to support their contingency planning. We will continue to communicate the latest guidance regarding the importing of such products via the Government-led food industry engagement forums to help build understanding of the requirements for regulatory compliance. We are working with industry to help improve representation of food businesses and hauliers for pre-notification fitness testing to support trader readiness. Our assessment of risk is that overall food supply will be maintained.

Consumer food prices depend on a range of factors including agri-food import costs, domestic agricultural prices, domestic labour and manufacturing costs, and Sterling exchange rates. Some technical barriers to trade, such as sanitary and phytosanitary checks, will also apply for specific items to businesses trading with the EU. Changes in food prices can result from any of these factors. Most food industry sectors are accustomed to fluctuations in supply chain costs. These do not necessarily translate into price rises.

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