THE NFU has reiterated the importance of free and frictionless trade with the EU if the UK leaves without a deal.

It called for clarity on trade of all agri-food products in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal on March 29, 2019.

It called for clarity on trade of all agri-food products in response to the government publishing the first in a series of technical notices setting out how the UK would mitigate the consequences of a no-deal scenario.

One of the notices on producing and processing organic food if there is a no Brexit deal, suggests organic agri-food products would not be allowed into the EU until UK organic certification bodies are officially recognised by the EU Commission – that approval could take up to nine months.

Minette Batters, NFU president, said that scenario, if applied across the wider UK food supply chain, would be disastrous for farm businesses, the economy and society at large.

She said: “The technical notice for organic farming is a warning for us on the future of trade of all agri-food products - if all these products were subjected to the same problems in approvals and certification then this could result in effectively a trade embargo on exports to the EU.

"Not only would this be hugely disruptive but it threatens livelihoods and businesses in the UK.

“The absolute priority for the NFU continues to be that we maintain free and frictionless trade with the EU – 60 per cent of UK food, feed and drink exports were to EU countries and 70 per cent of our imports in these products were from the EU. This trading relationship is worth £45.5bn.

“We look to government to clarify the vital issue of trading with the EU for the farming sector in the remaining technical notices due to be released."

Mrs Batters believes a deal is still the most likely outcome of the ongoing negotiations between the EU and UK, and urged both sides to find solutions to the outstanding issues.

She said: "A no-deal outcome would be the worst possible one for the farming industry.”

Tim Breitmeyer, president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), said the advice for organic businesses highlighted the extreme consequences of a no deal situation that could impact a number of sectors.

He said: "UK organic businesses will only be allowed to export to the EU if they are certified by a control body recognised and approved by the EU.

"The application process could take nine months and can only begin after Brexit, leaving the organic sector in a state of uncertainty about the future.

“All farmers need certainty and do not wish to leave the European Union without an agreement firmly in place which is in the best interests of the industry. We are doing all we can within Europe to encourage our equivalent organisations to support a better deal for both UK and EU farmers.”