Irish farm leaders met the European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator to argue the case for tariff-free trade for agricultural products and food between the UK and Europe.
A group from the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) raised the issue with EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels.
It follows the launch of a Brexit policy paper by the association, which sounded a strong warning that Brexit posed the most significant challenge to the Irish farming and food sector in the history of the state.
“There is clearly a very difficult negotiation period ahead between the EU and the UK,” said IFA president Joe Healy.
“The IFA was very clear that the outcome must include a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the EU and UK, which would include the following specific elements for agriculture and food: tariff-free trade for agricultural products and food; maintenance of equivalent standards on food safety, animal health, welfare and the environment; and application of the Common External Tariff for imports to both the EU and UK.”
On Monday next week the IFA will hold a major Brexit event with industry leaders and politicians including EU farm commissioner Phil Hogan and the Irish minister for agriculture, Michael Creed.