BEEF farmers in Cumbria have joined in an appeal for Government to take future food security seriously.

In an open letter to Defra secretary, George Eustice, the National Beef Association (NBA) has asked for the fast-tracking of an objective study, after amendments to the Agriculture Bill to protect UK standards were not adopted, during its third reading.

NBA interim CEO Neil Shand on behalf of NBA members, calls on government to confirm that existing EU law, preventing food imports from inferior production processes and animal welfare, will be fully adopted into UK law, effectively ‘slamming the door’ to hormone-treated beef imports.

The letter also states that government is not taking food security as seriously as it should be, or is sensible. It highlights that mid-pandemic, food shortages are still being experienced in supermarkets.

Mr Shand states that 2000 trucks a day come in from Europe to feed our country, and in the scenario that we were forced to close our borders, shelves would be empty of the majority of fresh food in less than ten days.

The NBA concludes by stating it would welcome the opportunity to meet with Mr Eustice to discuss the issues raised in this, and earlier letters, once the current crisis is stable.