NPA to Brexit minister: pork industry is ‘vital’ to Britain’s trade
Richard Lister, the chairman of National Pig Association (NPA), has written to Brexit minister David Davis stressing the importance of the pig industry to Britain’s balance of trade.
Lister said that future sustainability of the British pig industry can be achieved only if pig producers are able to compete with both their European and global counterparts.
He highlighted the importance of the NPA as an organisation that is affiliated to the National Farmers Union and represents over 80% of the national pig herd.
“The United Kingdom pig industry is worth £1.2 billion at the farm-gate, £5 billion at retail and, considering foodservice and other external sales and export values, over £7.5 billion in total,” Lister said.
“Our now blossoming export market is worth £350 million a year and is a vital component of our profitability in this increasingly volatile sector.”
In his letter, Lister called on Davis to work towards a transition of current European Union regulation into less arduous domestic UK regulation.
He also emphasized the importance of a free-trade agreement post-Brexit.
Lister went on to propose an in-constituency meeting to discuss how the industry can work together on what he deems key principles.
The meeting will include NPA vice-chairman Richard Longthorp, who lives and farms in the minister’s Howden constituency.
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