Europe’s food and drink industry should be considered a “priority” in upcoming Brexit negotiations, the sector has told legislators.
Mella Frewen, the director-general of FoodDrinkEurope, which represents food manufacturers operating in the EU, told a meeting of members of the European Parliament: “As the EU’s largest manufacturing industry, the food and drink sector must be a priority in the upcoming negotiations. FoodDrinkEurope and its members have underlined the need to establish a new and sustainable working relationship with the UK as quickly as possible.”
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According to Frewen, food and drink trade between the UK and the 27 countries that will remain in the EU after Brexit is worth some EUR45bn (US$50.32bn), “making it the EU’s largest trading partner”.
Frewen added: “In addition to that, establishing certainty is essential for citizens and for business. Ensuring the least possible disruption of trade and minimising regulatory divergence, will be crucial elements in the negotiations. Our goal is to ensure the least disruptive outcome for the food and drink sector at large.”
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