Michael Gove Warns There Is ‘No Guarantee’ UK Could Export Food To EU After No-Deal Brexit

He went on: “I emphatically do not want to run the risks leaving without a deal would involve.

“It is critically important that every decision-maker in London, every parliamentarian who will vote in coming weeks, understands what no-deal would involve for British farmers and food producers. No one can be blithe or blasé about the consequences.”

Gove also warned that other EU countries are “hungry” to replace Britain as a major exporter of meat to Europe.

He said the likes of Spain and Romania would seek to supply France, one of the UK’s best customers for sheep meat, while New Zealand and Australia would enjoy tariff-free trade for a quota of the produce.

Even if tariffs were only introduced for a short period under no-deal, the UK would find it difficult to regain its foothold in the market, he said. 

“If European buyers do switch contracts because tariffs make our exports significantly more expensive, it will be difficult to re-establish our market access even if those tariffs come down in the future.”

NFU president Minette Batters said it was “absolutely shocking” that with five weeks to go until Brexit, it was not clear to farmers what trade conditions they would be operating in or what the country’s future agricultural policy would look like.

It was also not clear whether fruit, flowers and vegetable growers would have access to a sizeable global seasonal workers scheme. 

“I make no apology for saying that leaving the EU without a deal would be a catastrophe for British farming,” she told the annual conference in Birmingham.