Industry warns UK meat sector could ‘lose’ EU orders within 12 weeks

"Until now, companies have only needed an invoice to ship goods to the EU," he added.

“But after the transition period, there will be a new set of export health certificates and ID markings needed to be able to trade with Europe, none of which has been addressed yet.

“To compound the problem, our EU customers may well be saddled with tariffs of up to 40 per cent on UK meat exports.”

Risks

Mr Allen warned if these arrangements were not in place soon ‘EU customers will be confronted with multiple risks which they will not be prepared to take’.

“Without knowing what the price will be, or even if they will be allowed to bring certain goods into the country, committing to any orders or supply contracts that extend after December 31 will make no sense whatsoever to EU buyers, or indeed, customers elsewhere in the world,” he said.

“The solution will be to turn their back on UK exporters and source product from our competitors who will be happy to take trade away from British meat processors.”

Support

Andy McGowan, Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) president, said: "SAMW is 100 per cent with BMPA on these matters and we very recently made these same points to our Cabinet Secretary, Fergus Ewing, MSP.

"The UK has now left the EU so it is imperative that the UK Government urgently acts to clarify these very practical arrangements, otherwise the meat industry, farmers included, will suffer further economic hardship.

"These are not things that require a trade deal to be finalised before progressing.”