The two farm leaders have remained in regular contact during the Brexit negotiations, given the significance of the talks for farmers and the wider agri-food industry.
Following the meeting, the leaders set out the key principles that farmers want to see as part of a deal.
- IFA and NFU re-affirmed the importance of avoiding a ‘no-deal’ scenario and appealed to both sets of negotiators to remain steadfast in pursuit of an agreement for arrangements on 1 January.
- Minette Batters and Tim Cullinan re-stated their firm commitment to the adherence to world-class standards that underpin food production in the UK and Ireland, and insisted that any future deal guarantees full recognition of these standards.
- Trade on the island of Ireland, and the trade flows East-West and West-East between here and the UK, are important to the economies on these islands. Every effort must be made to safeguard trade in agri-food goods, which plays a crucial role in the prosperity of rural communities.
- IFA and NFU re-affirmed their commitment to working together for the benefit of Irish and British farmers.
More from NFUonline:
- Northern Ireland Protocol - what you need to know
- Preparing your business for the end of the transition period
- The seven key things that will help farmers manage the process of leaving the EU
