We haven't seen the text (disclaimer) but nonetheless here is my pre-Christmas thread in reaction. This is a #hardBrexit deal (by design) and that means for food it is hardest of all. No rabbits out of the hat - the UK gov have followed through on their stated intent...1/
All food exports from the UK into EU will be subject to the same checks and inspections as EU imports from Russia, Chile, and yes.. Australia - this despite the fact that the UK rules will be 100% the same rules on safety, env, and animal welfare 2/ ec.europa.eu/food/animals/p…
So (eg) in 7 days all our meat, fish and dairy will require export health certs - gov estimate is 300k next year (industry thinks it will be more) that's 10x more than now (btw for most supply chains the EHC is just the last piece of paper) we have 2x as many vets to do this 3/
It looks like a number of products like chilled mince and sausages are banned from the EU from next Friday (except NI for 6 additional months) - we may impose the same ban the other way from 1 July. 4/
In his statement Boris Johnson firstly said there will be no non-tariff barriers on trade - an amazing statement - that feels like it is straight out of the Trump playbook. 5/ gov.uk/government/spe… 
He then in questions justified the need for this divergence on the grounds it would allow us to make our animal welfare standards stronger than those in the EU - something to do with welfare of pigs 6/
I can go with the exit from the Common Agricultural Policy to improve environmental policy and end agricultural production subsidies, but animal welfare #givemeabreak 7/
The biggest problem of all is that we have no implementation period. I know that is what this period post Withdrawal Agreement has been called, but we actually get the 7 days of Christmas week. 8/
We are going to have to learn how to do this as we go, massive change will come to our supply chains , businesses will restructure and our food system will change abruptly. Let's hope it's for the better in the end, but it will be slow, complex and expensive 9/
We are going to hear a lot of talk of how 'we got Brexit done' - in the #foodchain business will get Brexit done and that work starts now - the #coldchain will thrive in the end 10/
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