While Brexit negotiations continue to take place, FoodDrinkEurope, Copa and Cogeca and CELCAA have joined forces to call on EU Heads of State and governments to approve draft European Council guidelines on the future trade relationship.

Concerned over what the outcome of Brexit talks will be, particularly regarding potential tariffs and trade regulations, the three organizations are urging for a “status quo” transition period which they say it “vital” to operators in the food chain.

Non-profit FoodDrinkEurope, Copa and Cogeca, which represents the interests of European agriculture, and CELCAA, the European Liaison Committee for Agricultural and Agri-Food Trade, welcome the stated objective of tariff-free trade in all goods sectors.

But the trio of organizations wants to get approval on guidelines on the future trade relationship and are convinced that a status quo transition period – i.e., the UK being fully part of the EU Single Market and Customs unio – should last until new trade arrangements are implemented and functional, to avoid unnecessary legal uncertainty and disruption of trade.

Regarding a more general agreement, FoodDrinkEurope, Copa and Cogeca and CELCAA are concerned that the UK government has ruled out membership of the Single Market and Customs unio which will inevitably lead to significant trade disruption.

It is also not clear whether the UK is considering to continue participating in the relevant EU regulatory agency in this field – the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – wheras it is in other sectors (such as chemicals, medicines and aviation).

The organizations are convinced that the EU27 and Britain have much to gain from the continued expert and scientific cooperation, including through UK’s involvement in EFSA.

The agri-food sector, in general, wants a much closer EU-UK relationship than what is currently likely; ensuring the continued close alignment of post-Brexit regulatory arrangements, as well as customs cooperation will also be of crucial importance to the good functioning of those supply chains, and thereby to European growth and jobs.

With regard to the island of Ireland, practical and creative solutions are still needed to avoid the introduction of a physical border and trade restrictions between Northern and Southern Ireland, say the organizations.