The International Trade Committee continues its
inquiry examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday
30 April, with a session looking at the global trade in
agri-food, and the impact of the pandemic on UK food
supplies.
According to data from
the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 53% of
food consumed in the UK in 2018 was produced domestically, with
the rest coming from overseas. Supply chains are often highly
complex and operate on a “just in time” basis.
In this session, the Committee will first consider how the
agri-food system has responded to COVID-19 with two academic
experts. Questions are expected to focus on the degree of
reliance in the UK on food imports, the stability of supply
chains and the impact of export restrictions imposed on food
products by some countries.
The Committee will then hear from industry, taking evidence
from representatives from the British Retail Consortium, whose
members include some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets, and the
Food and Drink Federation, who represent food manufacturers.
Questions are expected to focus on how supply chains have
responded, and what has been done so far by the Government and
industry to mitigate disruption.
The Committee is also expected to consider the impact of
worker shortages, border closures, and disruption to transport
routes used by the industry.
Further information
The evidence session will begin at 14.30 on Thursday 30
April and be available to view via Parliament
TV. Witnesses and Committee members will participate
remotely. The Committee will take evidence
from:
Panel 1
-
Professor Bob Doherty, Professor of Marketing and Chair
in Agri-Food, University of York
-
Professor Fiona Smith, Professor of International
Economic Law and N8 Chair in Agri-Food, University of
Leeds
Panel 2
-
Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability, British
Retail Consortium
-
Ian Wright CBE, Chief Executive, Food and Drink
Federation
