Copa and Cogeca, CELCAA and FoodDrinkEurope acknowledge that the Commission has proceeded swiftly with the introduction of its contingency planning, in particular given the continued uncertainty surrounding the ratification process of the Withdrawal Agreement on Brexit in the United Kingdom. The agri-food chain organisations also positively welcome the integration of some of the most pressing requests into the list of measures released by the Commission.
However, according to the letter’s signatories, there are still several areas in which the Commission's proposals need to be clarified and improved to avoid any risk of significant disruption. Among other elements, the Agri-food chain representatives requested the possibility to foresee temporary facilitated procedures for EU agri-food products that would allow the goods to be cleared at the premises of the operator, the mutual recognition of SPS certification (food safety and phytosanitary) by the EU and the UK, as well as the preparation of tailor-made plan to support specific productions such as livestock.
The joint letter also calls for enhanced coordination and communication between sectorial representatives, Commission Directorates General, and national authorities, underlining that this will be necessary to avoid the dramatic economic consequences of a no-deal Brexit.