Brexit: Will the Tories tap-out the Bottled Water Industry?

“The UK currently has 86 recognised sources which can be used to bottle mineral water and they are located in 61 locations across the country, from St Ives in Cornwall to the remote Northmaven peninsula in the Shetland Islands. Although it is difficult to find out how much this type of bottled water is worth in the UK, it is estimated that the total worth of the sector is £2.7 billion” (Alexandre Nobajas – ‘HOW BREXIT COULD DRAIN BRITAIN’S BOTTLED MINERAL WATER INDUSTRY DRY’ 21.02.2021, Keely University).

The recent letter from 14 Members of Parliament from the Tories are really telling. They have over the weekend on the 27^th February 2021 prosed a “Bottled Water” Ban across the Channel. Do a trade-war-esque move. They sent this to Lord Frost, the newly appointed Brexit Minister and Chief Negotiator with the European Union. It is deliberate act to show some force in concern with the hurting shellfish industry.

However, the United Kingdom and Tories could easily see the ramification of leaving the EU. They could have studied and known what happens to trading parties who becomes a third country. What happens to certain industries and how these operates in concern to Brussels. Still, the Tories didn’t think of this, even if they were warned by industry ahead of the withdrawal. Because, the principals was more important than the reality on the ground.

The same is here with the Water Bottle Industry too. The Mineral Water and Distilled Water will hurt a billion pound industry. A industry with mostly rural bottlers will be hit by this. Just like rural producers and fisheries who made shellfish. If the Tories block EU Bottle Water like Evian. Who believes Brussels will care about bottled water from Scotland or Wales?

They will be banned entry too. The EU will not allow their own industries has a disadvantage. The member-states will not allow bottles entering from Wales to compete with French bottled waters in the Netherlands, but not being allowed to sell bottled water in London. That will not happen and the EU will strike back at London.

Therefore, if Lord Frost and the Tories are doing this. Then they will put the smaller bottlers dry. These who sells a lot of their stocks of bottled water to Europe will loose their profits and possible export market. That is just the reality here.

The European counterparts has a huge market to survive in anyway. They can compete there and get it through all of their member-states. The European Common-market is big enough for the producers. Yes, it is a loss to not sell in the UK, but that will not damage the bottled water industry at such an extent.

The rural bottlers in the UK will most likely have much more to loose, than the European exporters to the UK. Even if the Tories believes differently… the EU will not change their common-market rules and the UK as a third country have to comply. The bottled water industry is yet another looser, if the UK pulls this stunt.

The bottlers in Scotland and Wales will loose vital markets and the Tories will destroy another industry. That will make these water-wells run dry. If not they have to make the British drink more bottled water, instead of drinking it directly from the tap. Peace.

Brexit: The Tories knew shellfish exports would be troublesome

“Deepdock director James Wilson said that the consequences of this are that when the UK leaves the EU, we become a third country, and so are no longer considered to be immediately compliant with single-market requirements. The single-market issue – part of the suite of so-called non-tariff barriers to future trade – is likely to be the largest disruptive influence on the flow of trade from the UK into the EU” (…) “He said they had been concerned since the referendum result, and had engaged with the UK and Welsh governments throughout this period. They had expressed concern to the Welsh government, DEFRA and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) many times, but had been told, “It will be fine.” The administrations finally acknowledged that there was a problem more than a week after the original 29 March Brexit deadline. “We were floored by the news,” said James Wilson” (Tim Oliver – ‘EU mussel exports threat’ 20.05.2019, Fishing News).

The Conservative Party and Her Majesties Government in London seems baffled. They seems rattled and shocked that the Brexit has consequences. It seems like they thought it would be easier and less hurdles. However, with the Withdrawal Agreement and Trade Agreement in place. They are out of the Single Market with the European Union (EU) and that affects trading between the UK and the EU.

Now, that the fish is rotting from the head. We are now just over a month into the new game-changer. The lovely days of being a Third Country. The effects and touches of being outside is happening. The businesses are being touched and the exporters are feeling a whiff of new paperwork to issue before sending cargo across borders. The UK exporting businesses has been hit and non other then the fisheries.

The Fisheries which was so important. One part of the fisheries are the fish-farms and the ones selling shellfish or mussels. These are being transported fresh or frozen from rural areas across the UK to the European Union (EU). That was being done for years, but things changed when the UK turned into a “third country” as there are new obstacles for this industry as a whole. When you go into “Online Trade Tariff” on GOV.UK you can check the various of mussels, but there is no export measure between the markets in place of 8^th February 2021.

That is why its really outrageous that Tories think they could be selfish and not follow their trading partners standards, which is pre-fixed with their agreement. That seems lost on the likes of George Eustice and the Tories who blames the EU for having regulations for “Third Country” nations. Alas, a worry that they was warned about from the producers, which they told “it will be fine”. Which by today is proven it is not.

Paul Armstrong reports: “A leaked email to the website Politics Home showed that The European Commission last month wrote to the UK shellfish industry informing it that un-purified oysters, mussels, clams, cockles and scallops caught in those waters were banned from the EU indefinitely since the UK left the Brexit transition period on New Year’s Eve” (…) “Martin Laity director of Sailor’s Creek Shellfish in Flushing says the news sounds the death knell for his business and the 52 fishermen and women he had to lay off over at the beginning of the year because of Brexit” (Paul Armstrong – ‘Oyster fisherman Fal Estuary EU shellfish ban’ 07.02.2021, Failmouth Packet).

The businesses is already hurting and its proven to be so. The EU isn’t selfish… but the UK wasn’t ready for the boundaries of the shellfish. The UK should have been prepared for the obstacles and the issues with becoming a “third country”. They are not apart of the single market anymore and has to comply to other rules. That is the reality of it all.

The UK is now a fish out of water. It is really struggling to comprehend the new reality and thinking they are special. However, the UK have to follow the regulations and standards, which is now operative from 1^st January 2021. It seems like they thought things would be like before. Nevertheless, they had the warnings… but they didn’t listen to the industry itself.

The Tories knew and they was getting words from the industry. Still they didn’t comply or consider the implications of the Brexit. Now its a reality … and the shellfish is rotting in the port. Because of the arrogance of Whitehall and the Tories itself. Who knew that this could happen, but now want to through a hissy fit at the European Commission for not preparing properly for the shellfish industry. That is why they in a sea of trouble…. Peace.