Coronavirus: Supply Chain Challenges from Labour to Logistics

The supply chain is facing many challenges at this current time from labour to logistics.

It is crucial that all key parts of the food supply chain are recognised for their importance.

The manufacturers and retailers are of course critical, but it is also those that keep the supply of all inputs to industries that must be recognised, and that includes importers. As the UK is not self-sufficient in meat, we require imports to complement domestic production to provide these inputs to manufacturers. Not only is it the importers that are key but all those that support the process including freight forwarders who deal with documentation and customs declarations but also port health who undertake the veterinary checks on imported products and the dock workers and those hauliers moving the goods around the port and beyond are also key. IMTA has made representation to government that these parts of the supply chain must be recognised as critical for allowing food to keep moving. We welcome Defra SoS George Eustice’s letter to food industry workers today and want to echo his tribute to workers up and down the food supply chain.

Measures to ensure that food continues to move was the topic of discussion on a call of the UECBV (European Meat & Livestock Trading Union) Import Working Group held on Monday. The call was chaired by Margaret Boanas, UECBV Chairman for International Trade and IMTA Chairman. Food security at this time is paramount. The discussion focussed on how UECBV could highlight to the European Commission ways that this could be ensured. It was agreed that a joint letter would be sent on behalf of the group.

Some of these same concerns are crucial to exports and flexibility to allow electronic documentation would help mitigate some of the challenges around physical documentation. The present scenario is certainly highlighting the importance of moving towards electronic documentation in international trade. Unfortunately, the systems aren’t there yet in all parts of the world so anything done for now would likely be temporary in response to the present situation.

IMTA is working to keep members informed at this time and where members have flagged concerns, we are working to seek solutions from government.

IMTA represents importers, exporters and wholesalers of meat. We believe two-way trade is essential to deliver carcase balance, food security and consumer choice. We are a member of the European Livestock and Meat Trades Union (UECBV) and are working to achieve the continuation of trade post-Brexit.