IMTA Response to UK Government Food Strategy

IMTA was pleased to see the publication of the Government Food Strategy for England. IMTA was engaged with the Dimbleby Review in 2019 and advocated for the need for two-way trade in the food system to safeguard food security, consumer choice and facilitate carcase balance in the UK meat sector. These issues are brought into sharp focus when the food system faces challenges as it has over the past few years. IMTA particularly welcomes the elements of the Strategy focused on international trade.

The Government Food Strategy acknowledges that “self-sufficiency is not the same as food security… a global food system provides us with a diversity of supply sources” This has long been the position of the International Meat Trade Association. Representing both importers and exporters, IMTA believes that two-way trade is vital for the meat industry and the UK food system as a whole.

The meat industry is a unique industry in that it disassembles a product; all cuts must find a market to ensure the best returns for UK producers. This illustrates the need for trade to ensure carcase balance; the UK must export the cuts more preferred in other parts of the world, and import cuts favoured by UK consumers.

IMTA also welcomes the inclusion of a commitment to ensure UK firms can access export opportunities by placing agri-food attachés in key markets. IMTA has had excellent engagement with the existing agri-food attaché network and looks forward to working with the new counsellors.

IMTA CEO Katie Doherty said: “IMTA welcomes the Strategy and looks forward to continuing to work with the government to shape the UK food system, noting that the report states it is the beginning of a conversation.

“The focus on two-way trade is particularly welcome. Two-way trade is vital for ensuring consumer choice, food security, and carcase balance in the UK.

“I was pleased to see the commitment to ensuring British firms have access to export opportunities, which builds on the Conservative Manifesto commitment in 2019 to redouble efforts on export market access. The commitment to opening new markets via FTAs is appreciated, but focus should also be placed on veterinary market access. Without the relevant export health certification, tariff liberalisations through FTAs are not able to be used by UK exporters.”

IMTA is a UK trade association, representing predominantly UK companies importing and exporting meat. Our goal is the facilitation of the trade in meat ensuring UK consumer choice, food security and carcass balance through import and export. IMTA provides leading trade expertise on UK trade policy including on customs, tariffs, quotas, rules of origin, WTO, trade agreements, SPS conditions and market access.