Busiest week of the year caught in perfect storm of COVID and Brexit.
ITV reporter Paul Brand has tweeted that the French Government will establish a protocol in the next few hours. This is to ensure movement from the UK can resume.
In a statement, the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) called for swift action by the UK Government to press for freight to France to resume in the face of huge losses in the busiest week of the year.
France is the largest market for Scottish salmon with sales worth GBP 221 million last year.
- Read more: “Mutant” virus ban prompts shutdown at Port of Dover, France closes its borders with the UK
“Plans for Operation Brock to prioritise perishable goods must be brought into action. That could help to alleviate some of the disruption,” said SSPO CEO Tavish Scott.
“Meanwhile, it is evident that the UK Government must seek an agreement to extend the Brexit transition period. This is the only pragmatic step to take during this unprecedented turn of events with Covid-19,” added Scott.
BREAKING: French government says that it will establish a protocol in the next few hours “to ensure that movement from the UK can resume”.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) December 21, 2020
SalmonBusiness has heard reports of trucks of Scottish salmon turning from the port of Dover in response to the news that France has halted lorry movements from the UK. The port of Dover has been closed to all vehicle traffic leaving the UK for the next 48 hours. This has created a three-mile plus gridlock in the area.
