AHDB and CEJA Comment on Vote to Leave EU

The comments on the UK decision to leave EU assaulted media and social networks.

Commenting on the vote to leave, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s Chief Executive, Jane King, said: “The AHDB focus remains unaffected by the decision to leave the EU - to equip levy payers with the tools to become more competitive and sustainable. Amongst other issues, the decision to leave brings to the fore the need for UK Government to target the best new trading relationships we can for UK food & agriculture both with the EU and other countries.AHDB has the skills and expertise to contribute to this work in areas such as market prioritisation, market access negotiations and facilitating relationships between UK exporters and overseas buyers. We stand ready to support the industry in identifying how it can best compete outside the EU.These issues will take time to resolve, but AHDB will play a full part in ensuring UK agriculture is a leading player on the global stage.”

On the other hand, CEJA comments that this will trigger negotiations between the UK and EU which will set out a schedule and strategy for the UK's exit from the Union and redefine its future ties with it, including in terms of the agricultural sector and the trade of goods and services in particular.

CEJA President Alan Jagoe stated that: “As a pan-European organisation we respect the decision made by UK citizens to leave the Union. CEJA will be following the implications of this decision closely over the coming months and years and will continue to represent the interests of European young farmers to the EU institutions, particularly in the face of such uncertainty”.