Farmers face a devastating hit from Sir Keir Starmer’s realignment with Brussels, MPs have warned.
Alistair Carmichael, the chairman of the environment, food and rural affairs committee, has raised concerns over the Government’s decision to accept new European Union rules without a transition period.
This risks banning certain farming practices overnight once the new rules come into effect.
Mr Carmichael said: “The dangers of realigning with EU policy, without a sufficient period for proper adjustment, should be obvious to everyone.”
The environment committee had called for a phased approach to the deal and a transition period of at least 24 months to avoid a “cliff-edge” scenario.
However, this proposal was recently rejected by ministers, who confirmed that the agreement will take effect in mid-2027.
As part of a Brexit reset deal, the Government is seeking closer ties to the EU to make it easier to export farm produce to Europe.
However, this could lead to the banning of certain pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, piling yet more pressure on farmers.
‘Farming practices cannot change overnight’
Farming groups, including the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), had asked that the readjustment be phased.
Tom Bradshaw, the president of the NFU, said: “Farming practises cannot change overnight.”
CropLife UK, a trade organisation that represents the agrichemical sector, has warned that the new sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU could cost British farming businesses £810m a year.
Mr Carmichael added: “Arable farmers are concerned about this because they are savvy about the various pesticides and insecticides on the market. They’re the ones who really sort of worked up about it.”
