188体育

Food and drink exports from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland worth 拢850million would face an uncertain future if the UK voted to leave the European Union, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss warned today.

Ahead of Lisburn鈥檚 148th Balmoral Show, Elizabeth Truss will highlight the vital trade relationship Northern Ireland鈥檚 farmers have with the European Union鈥攊n particular cross-border trade with the Republic of Ireland, which alone accounts for 65% of all the food and drink exports from Northern Ireland.

As part of the EU single market, Northern Ireland鈥檚 farmers and food producers can easily sell their goods to consumers across the border, benefitting from tariff-free access and common standards on labelling, safety and welfare. It is far from certain what trading relationship the UK would have with the EU, including the Republic of Ireland, should the UK leave鈥攆armers could face crippling tariffs to sell their goods to Europe and a red tape 鈥榙ouble whammy鈥� of different rules around inspections and labelling to sell abroad and at home 鈥� two sets of regulations, rather than one.

The single market is particularly important to Northern Ireland鈥檚 food and drink industry as it sells a much higher proportion of its food and drink exports to the EU鈥�83% compared to the UK average of 60%. Northern Ireland鈥檚 food and drink export trade with the EU brings in over 拢1bn to the economy. Meat exports account for over a quarter of this export value, at 拢280m, with dairy and eggs a close second at 拢240m.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss will say today:

Family-run farms and innovative food and drink producers across Northern Ireland enjoy huge success in the EU, with over 拢1bn of produce exported there in 2015.

Northern Ireland particularly benefits from easy, hassle-free trade with the Republic of Ireland鈥攁 vital source of income for farmers and food producers.

If we were to leave the EU, Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK would not be able to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland鈥檚 farmers would have no certainty on cross trade arrangements.

Leaving the EU is a leap in the dark and a risk not worth taking, with no guarantees that such a good deal could be struck outside the EU. Northern Ireland鈥檚 world-class farmers and food producers are stronger, safer and better off in a reformed European Union.

Food and drink exports account for over a fifth of Northern Ireland鈥檚 total exports, with food and livestock exports to the EU more than doubling in real terms since 1998. Exports of food and drink from Northern Ireland to the ROI alone are more than ten times the value of those to its biggest non-EU market, the USA, which accounts for 拢80m of food and drink exports.

During her visit to Northern Ireland the Environment Secretary met with Moy Park, the UK鈥檚 biggest poultry producer, based in Craigavon, to talk about the benefits of tariff-free access and common standards for food and farming businesses.

2016 is Northern Ireland鈥檚 Year of Food and Drink, and its rich food and drink scene boasts three foods with protected EU status鈥擫och Neagh Eels, Armagh Bramley Apples and New Season Comber Potatoes. 50,000 jobs in NI could be linked to trade with the rest of the European Union. In 2014, almost 拢4bn of goods were traded across the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, benefitting from tariff-free access. From 1998 to 2014, exports from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland grew by 86% in real terms.

Outside the EU, Treasury analysis shows the UK will be worse off by 拢4,300 a year per household if Britain votes to leave. It is not clear whether the Common Travel Area would be able to continue to operate between the UK and the Republic of Ireland and sustain the important free trade of goods for producers and traders.

Further information

1. For more information contact the Defra press office on 0208 026 3764.
2. All figures sourced from .
3. Visit the for more information.