Defra Plans to Reduce Food Imports

Owen Paterson, secretary of state for Defra, promised to reduce food imports to the UK at the Food and Drink Federation’s President’s Dinner.

Proposals include an import substitution group which would work with the food industry to work out how to decrease imports.

Mr Paterson said, “22% of the food we import could be produced here. The industry can grow stronger by sticking more food on supermarket shelves that is actually grown here. We imported 95,000 tonnes of Cheddar last year – a more competitive industry could fill that gap.

“The food and drink sector is a vitally important part of our economy, contributing £96 billion and nearly four million jobs. I want to do everything I can to support it, and get more investment into the UK. The food industry also offers a fantastic range of careers and there’s important work to be done to get even more skilled people involved. It would be good to see this dynamic industry beginning to sell itself better and we will look at what we can do to help with that.”

He also recognised the need for more British food products to be exported abroad, adding, “Exports are crucial for the industry if it is to continue to grow. China has already opened its doors to British pork but we’re not stopping there. Our food exports to Saudi Arabia increased by 35% in 2012, and we sold half a billion pounds worth of chocolate overseas.”

Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband also sent in video messages, pledging their support to the British food industry.