Brexit

Muneer: 'Businesses need to ensure they have the necessary permissions to bring workers into the country'

Legal opinion

HGV driver, poultry worker and pork butcher visas: what we know

By Shabana Muneer

In an effort to tackle supply chain issues, the Government backtracked on its refusal to allow 'unskilled' labour into the UK and announced a temporary visa scheme for overseas HGV drivers, poultry workers and now pork butchers. The situation...

The Government has announced plans to offer 800 visas for overseas abattoir workers

Temporary abattoir visas fail to address wider issues

By Gwen Ridler

Government plans to allow 800 foreign abattoir workers into the UK on temporary visas will address immediate issues, but larger labour issues still need to addressed, warned members of the industry.

Shoratges of qualified vets has hit Wales the hardest, according to Eville & Jones

Wales hit hardest by UK vet shortage

By Gwen Ridler

The shortage of qualified veterinarians in the UK continued to threaten exports to EU countries, with Wales hit the hardest by the shortfall, according to provider Eville & Jones.

Brodie: 'The current issues require immediate short term solutions'

Food Manufacture webinar

'Worst skills crisis in our lifetime' - Avara Foods's Brodie

By Rod Addy

The food industry faces 'the worst skills crisis in our lifetime', according to Andrew Brodie, Avara Foods people and communications director, one of the participants in Food Manufacture's 9 September webinar tackling the issue.

Typhoo processes its branded and own label teas in the UK

Typhoo Tea acquired by Zetland Capital

By Rod Addy

Typhoo Tea Ltd, maker of brands such as Lift and Heath & Heather has been acquired by private equity firm Zetland Capital, enabling it to invest in production and boost jobs.

Roebuck: 'The flow of labour into the country is not there at the moment'

Foodman Talks

FoodMan Talks: Dunbia's Isla Roebuck on meat sector hurdles

By Rod Addy

Having relinquished the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) presidency after an intense four-years, Dunbia's business public relations director (UK) Isla Roebuck tackles Brexit, the skills shortage and Dunbia's joint venture with Dawn...

The Wyke Farms Wincanton site can pack up to 60t of product in 24 hours

Me & My Team

Me & My Team: inside track on Wyke Farms export hub

By Pete Hooper

An extension to Wyke Farms's Wincanton cheese store and export packing facility was completed in February 2021, transforming it into an export centre of excellence and the timing was perfect, says operations director Pete Hooper.

Clothier: 'The system is older than you or I'

FoodMan Talks: Wyke Farms grows exports amid Brexit red tape

By Rod Addy

Post-Brexit bureaucracy is still hampering cheese producer Wyke Farms' export efforts, although the company is making considerable headway in markets outside the EU, according to managing director Richard Clothier in the latest FoodMan Talks.

Last minute decisions by the Government could result ‘unnecessary and costly’ uncertainty

Seasonal worker shortage branded ‘unnecessary and costly’

By Gwen Ridler

The Government has placed British food producers ‘at the bottom of the list’ for migrant workers thanks to ‘unnecessary and costly’ uncertainty surrounding delayed Seasonal Workers Pilot announcements, according to MPs.

Liz Truss made reassurances that food standards won't slip in the UK/Australia trade deal

Secretary of state reaffirms food standards commitment

By Gwen Ridler

Secretary of State for International trade Liz Truss has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to securing high food standards for products coming into the country without undermining UK producers.

The EU did not opt to introduce border controls in phases

Brexit: food firms must prepare for phased border checks

By Andrew Northage & Claire Burrows

Legal experts at Walker Morris discuss what food businesses need to know about phases 2 and 3 of implementing checks at the Great Britain/EU border now the Brexit transition period has ended.

Exports from the UK were down in 2020 thanks to the pandemic and Brexit

Food and drink exports dip in 2020

By Gwen Ridler

UK food and drink exports fell 9.7% in 2020 compared to the previous year, but opportunities to grow in overseas markets still remain, according to a new report.

Leaving the EU has had a profound effect on the exportation of 'just-in-time' short shelf-life food, says CFA director Karin Goodburn

Chilled Food Association and vets battle Brexit red tape

By Rod Addy

The Chilled Food Association (CFA) is supporting vets battling the rising tide of costly red tape needed to allow Great Britain to transport short shelf-life composite foods of animal origin into the EU.

February food export stats: note of caution sounded

February food export stats: note of caution sounded

By Jerome Smail

Food export struggles seem more systemic for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) after the Brexit transition period’s end, sounding a note of caution despite February export statistics painting a rosier picture than January data.

UK food exports to the EU fell by 75.5% in January 2021 compared to January 2020

Top five food exports to EU taking hit in January

By Rod Addy

Salmon, beef, pork, cheese and animal feed were the top five UK food chain items exported to the EU taking the biggest percentage hit in January, with overall exports down 75.5% on January 2020.

Mielken: 'Critics say the benefits of freeports are minimal and claim that organised criminals will be among the few to benefit'

Opinion

Freeports: Benefit or burden?

By Arne Mielken

With the Government’s announcement of the creation of eight new freeports across England, customs expert and founder of the customs and training consultancy Customs Manager Arne Mielken looks at the benefits and potential dowsides for food and drink manufacturers.

CBD producers have until 31 March to submit novel food applications

CBD ‘key market’ in post-Brexit UK

By Gwen Ridler

Concessions enabling more CBD products to meet the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) novel food application deadline suggest the UK could be becoming a major player in cannabis edibles, according to law firm Fieldfisher.

The Trade & Agriculture Commission's recommendations are intended to boost the UK food sector's competitiveness. Credit: robertmandel

Trade & Agriculture Commission: 'we are at a crossroads'

By Rod Addy

The UK Government must maintain high food standards for imports, rewarding countries who meet them with zero tariffs, and meet consumers' ethical expectations, the newly formed Trade & Agriculture Commission (TAC) claims.

Tensions still remains between the UK and the EU, with the Brexit trade deal offering little in the way of relief for struggling exporters

Deal with EU offers ‘little relief’ to exporters

By Gwen Ridler

British Meat Processors Association trade policy adviser Peter Hardwick claims the UK’s Brexit deal offers little relief for exporters to the EU from the burden of Britain becoming a third country.

Sanderson: 'Transforming transparency into genuine traceability'

Food safety opinion

Innovation and creativity love crises and constraints

By Rick Sanderson

“Crises present us with unique conditions that allow innovators to think and move more freely to create rapid, impactful change,” as Larry Clark, managing director, Global Learning Solutions, Harvard Business Publishing once said.

Ewing: 'The taskforce must not be a talking shop, it needs to provide urgent solutions.'

Scotland taskforce urged to protect seafood industry

By Gwen Ridler

The Scottish government’s newly established seafood task force needs to take decisive action to save the industry from ‘relentless bureaucracy’ and protect jobs, urged Scotland’s fisheries minister.

Heineken is cutting 8,000 jobs worldwide

Heineken cuts hit UK jobs

By Gwen Ridler

Heineken is to slash jobs across its UK operations, as part of a larger worldwide job cuts in the wake of COVID-19 disruption.

UK meat firms could move operations to the EU if export troubles continue

Meat processors trade in EU to bypass Brexit export woes

By Gwen Ridler

UK meat businesses are considering setting up an EU base to bypass export problems, as meat processors continue to struggle to ship product to the continent, the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) claims.

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