Covid-19 highlights the importance of the domestic supply of feed meat

Disruption

During the early stages of coronavirus in China, the shortage of staff at ports disrupted the arrival and distribution of imported meat.

Once they returned to work, the period of disruption to usual trade flows resulted in legacy problems for meat exporters to China, such as accessing the containers and ships.

Food supply in the UK has not been as significantly disrupted because cross-channel ferries are running well below capacity, operating largely as freight only transport with minimal disruption at ports.

Financial support

However, with the financial viability of some ferry routes and businesses being threatened by the reduction in passenger travel, the UK has made financial support available to these companies to secure their future.

Mr Ashworth added: “Irrespective of coronavirus, the strategic importance of food security that comes from access to domestic supplies and the availability of skilled workers in the food industry must be better appreciated.

“Discussions over Brexit must fully recognise the impact of disruption to trade, whether that be through tariff or non-tariff barriers on the financial sustainability of the red meat supply chain."