Alison Ryan, Trade Marketing Executive, Bord Bia - The Irish Food Board
Key events this week:
UK food producers and distributors have asked competition rules to be relaxed in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The Food and Drink Federation has said that co-operation between competing retailers would be necessary in the case of a no-deal Brexit, in order to ensure people living in districts portly served by supermarkets did not go without. The FDF, other industry bodies and manufacturers have called for competition law waivers in a no-deal Brexit scenario.
Boris Johnson is expected to face a no-confidence vote in his government soon after the UK parliament returns from its summer recess early in September.
Liberal Democrats have rejected the idea of installing Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street to avoid a no-deal Brexit, thereby thwarting the Labour party leadership’s hopes of forming a caretaker government this autumn if a vote of no confidence in the new prime minster succeeds. The newly elected Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, said that Labour have refused the idea of a coalition caretaker government as they don’t want to work with other parties to stop Brexit, because “the truth is they want to deliver Brexit”.
The cross-party group of MPs is looking at legislative options to thwart Boris Johnson in pursuing a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. The group is looking at options with mounting urgency, including forcing parliament to sit through the autumn recess amid growing outrage about the power and influence of Johnson’s controversial aide Dominic Cummings.
The EU is increasingly resigned to the prospect of the UK crashing out of the bloc without a deal. Officials in Brussels say relations with the UK have reached stalemate because the EU refuses to meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s demand to drop the Irish backstop.
The departing Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive has backed Bank of England warnings about the impact of a no-deal Brexit, saying that leaving the EU without an agreement would cause some medium-term “pain and anguish”.
Implications for Irish food & drink companies:
The impact of a no deal Brexit on the food and drink sector and the severity of the issues it may cause came to the forefront of news in the UK this week. This highlights that a no-deal Brexit is becoming increasingly likely and industries are looking for ways to prepare. It is crucial therefore, that Irish food and drink manufacturers continue to prepare for all Brexit possibilities, including a no-deal Brexit.
The 2019 Brexit Barometer Industry Findings Report and Action Plan can now be downloaded from the Bord Bia website. The Action Plan provides practical information and outlines a number of steps that Irish food and drink companies can take in order to mitigate the risks posed by Brexit.
Bord Bia has also announced a new range of support services for Irish food and drink companies to help them to prepare for Brexit.
Information on the support services can be found by following the above links. Alternatively, all information can be found on the Brexit page on the Bord Bia website: https://www.bordbia.ie/industry/trading-with-uk/
Looking ahead:
- The House of Commons will be on summer recess until September 3.
- October 31 is the current Brexit deadline.