Supermarkets ‘asked to store food’ as fears of a no-deal Brexit rise

The UK government is reported to have warned supermarkets to stockpile food and other essential supplies amid mounting fears of a no-deal Brexit in less than three weeks.

Boris Johnson and EU commission chair Ursula von der Leyen agreed on Sunday to continue tense trade talks, but ministers have downplayed the chances of a deal.

And in anticipation of shortages brought on by a no-deal, ministers have told supermarkets to start stocking produce, according to the Sunday Times.

“There was a conversation a week ago when the ministers said to prepare not to reach an agreement. This weekend the message is that there is no agreement, ”a senior consultant from one of the large supermarkets told the newspaper.

The consultant added: “Supermarkets and ministers are very concerned about panic buying. They saw what happened to Covid when people started accumulating rolls of toilet paper and now how quickly it can go wrong. “

Food producers have warned that fresh vegetable supplies will be hit the hardest if tariffs are imposed on products in the event that no deal is reached. They say the shortage could last at least three months.

Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers and suppliers are doing everything they can to reduce disruptions for consumers, including increasing stocks of non-perishable items and finding alternative supply routes. .

“The main impact [of] Brexit will apply to imported fresh produce, such as many fresh fruits and vegetables, that neither retailers nor consumers can store for long periods. ”

The government has also told providers of drugs, medical devices and vaccines to store six weeks’ worth in safe places in the UK.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab insisted that the UK has “enough diversity of supply” of drugs in the event that no deal is reached.

When asked if he could guarantee the flow of medical supplies to the UK, Raab told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “Well, of course, with things like vaccines and general medical supplies, the NHS and DHSC (Department of Health and Social Assistance) already have a generalized program of storage and security of supply.

“So I think, you know, there may be changes, but we have enough diversity on offer.”

It also appeared to confirm a separate report in the Sunday Telegraph that the government has drawn up plans for a billions-worth of bailouts for farmers and food producers in the event that no deal is reached.

When asked if the government planned to spend £ 8bn to rescue farmers, Raab said: “We will always see, as we have shown through the coronavirus, that we want to support those vulnerable communities.”

Meanwhile, there continued to be reports of long delays and delays on the freeways at the Port of Dover, as carriers blamed the queues on storage.

Shadow justice secretary David Lammy accused the prime minister of gambling with public supplies. He tweeted that it was “irreproachable to see the government tell supermarkets to stockpile food due to their own ideology and incompetence.”