The National Sheep Association (NSA) claims that as the breeding season progresses there will be repercussions for being unable to export breeding sheep to the EU.
The sheep trade relies on farmers in the EU wanting to buy British bred sheep but UK breeders are concerned that EU buyers are being deprived.
Phil Stocker, chief executive of the NSA said that while the UK Government had eased controls on imports from the EU until the end of the year and into 2022, there has been no reciprocal decision from the EU.
“We are in the ridiculous position of being able to import live breeding animals into the UK now, but not able to export anything due to an absence of facilities to take breeding animals on the other side of the channel,” he said.
“If we lose our ability to move breeding animals across borders then others will soon step in.
“Even within the UK, the situation is dire with all promises made broken over free and frictionless trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
“The NI protocols have silently killed off the majority of the trade for GB farmers selling commercial maternal sheep to NI, as well as a crucial part of the NI farming sector that is based on breeding high-value pedigree animals as part of the UK industry.”
LSL News.