03/12/20 - Live export ban, potato trade after Brexit

The export of live animals for fattening or slaughter is to be banned. The Government is announcing an eight week consultation on it, but the environment secretary, George Eustice, says he plans to end what he describes as an 'unnecessary practice' by the end of next year.

The UK exports potatoes, both for eating and as seed potatoes, to many EU countries, and particularly to Ireland. But as things stand once the Brexit transition period ends at the end of this month that trade will halt. We hear from the British Potato Trade Association.

Meanwhile, many agricultural companies have been working on the paperwork and planning for the 1st January for a while now. We visit RDS Technology, based near Stroud, which makes instruments to weigh and measure things on farms - from the grain in the combine to the pesticide in a sprayer. Half of what the company produces is exported to Europe and so from January it’ll need both British approval for its products as well as a separate EU accreditation.

Presented by Charlotte Smith
Producer for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons