THE NFU has warned that the government's tariff review for a no-deal Brexit scenario could threaten the British farming industry.

In response to the review, the organisation criticised the government's decision to remove tariffs on certain agricultural produce - including grain, eggs and most fruits and vegetables - in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

In this scenario, the EU is expected to place a 19 per cent tariff on eggs, a 53 per cent tariff on wheat and an 11.5 per cent tariff on potatoes, while the UK would place no tariffs on these products being imported from the EU.

Minette Batters, president of the NFU, said: "Without the maintenance of tariff protections, we are in danger of opening up the UK to imported food which would be illegal to be produced here, produced at a lower cost because it may fail to meet the environmental and animal welfare standards which are legally required of our own farmers - flooding our market and resulting in unsustainable price falls. Not only could this be terrible news for farmers, whose very businesses will be under threat, but also for consumers who enjoy the high-quality and affordable British food they produce.

"While it is clearly important that the government manages prices for consumers in a no-deal scenario, border tariffs have very little impact on retail food prices. They can, however, have a massive impact on the viability of farm businesses and our ability to produce high quality, great British food. I believe that offering some limited tariff protection and managing volumes through a system of import quotas would have struck the right balance between protecting the interests of domestic producers and keeping retail food prices under control.

"Farmers are going to feel betrayed by this government’s failure to act now in making sure that all that can be done is being done to help mitigate the damaging effects of a no-deal Brexit. I don’t recall anyone selling a vision of post-Brexit Britain as one involving lower standard food filling shop shelves while British farmers, the guardians of our cherished countryside, go out of business."

While some products listed above will not be tariffed in a no-deal Brexit scenario, others, such as sheep meat, would receive full tariff protection.

West Dorset MP Sir Oliver Letwin said: "This is one of the many reasons why the UK needs to avoid a disorderly, undemocratic ‘no-deal’ exit. As the NFU rightly points out, it would create huge problems for our farmers in West Dorset."

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