BREXIT BOMBS: Theresa May releases 29 NO DEAL Brexit consequences on Britain
THERESA May’s Government has released a further set of Brexit contingency plans outlining the potential impacts of a no deal split and how ministers are preparing for them.
May: Leaving with 'no deal' Brexit would be bad outcome for UK
The 29 ‘technical notices’ drawn up by Whitehall cover areas including free trade agreements after the split, fishing policy and rail transport.
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said the Government is still striving to strike a good deal with Brussels, but added the documents showed the “unlikely” prospect of no deal is being taken seriously.
The latest batch of documents reveal how the UK will immediately regain control of its waters in a no deal scenario and in some areas businesses and individuals will notice nothing change.
But they included a series of warnings, including “burdensome” new restrictions for UK firms operating on the Continent, possible disruption to cross-channel rail travel and the threat of power blackouts in Northern Ireland.
The UK will also lose free trade agreements with more than 70 non-EU countries around the world if it leaves without a deal, the Government warned.
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The latest batch of documents cover:
- Funding for British Overseas Territories
As a member of the EU, the UK and its Overseas Territories can currently apply for funding from the bloc to pay for specific projects.
But if Britain leaves without a deal, places like Gibraltar could lose future funding for existing projects under EU programmes.
The document released yesterday says the Chancellor will guarantee funding for specific EU projects to “provide certainty for British Overseas Territories governments”.
- Commercial fishing
In a no-deal Brexit, the Government says it will establish its fisheries policies as a replacement for the EU’s controversial Common Fisheries Policy.
The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs says non-UK-registered vessels will no longer enjoy automatic access to UK waters, unless there are existing agreements in place.
But UK boats will lose their automatic right to fish in EU or third country waters.
Meanwhile, the UK Fisheries Administrations will “tell UK quota holders what their quota allocation will be”.
- Breeding animals
Breeders of pedigree horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and goats will lose their automatic recognition in the EU if Britain leaves without a deal in March 2019.
In the case of a no-deal Brexit, recognised UK breed societies and breeding operations will no longer be automatically entitled to enter animals into breeding books in the EU or extend breeding programmes onto the continent.
The Department for the Environment said that such operations would have to apply to the European Commission for certification that they meet EU rules.
However, EU-recognised breed societies and operations will "continue to have access to the UK in the same way as they do now".
- Rail transport and rail safety standards
Cross-Channel rail passengers have been warned they will be responsible for ensuring their tickets are "sufficient to cover possible disruption" in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
This means some Eurostar and Eurotunnel customers may be tempted to buy more expensive amendable fares rather than cheaper fixed tickets.
The document also explains that the UK is seeking bilateral arrangements with France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland to "facilitate the continued smooth functioning of cross-border rail services".
- Trading gas and electricity with the EU
Operators of electrical power links with Europe will need to set up alternative trading arrangements in a no-deal Brexit.
Around six percent of the UK’s electricity is imported through power links with France, the Netherlands and Ireland and plans are in the pipeline to build several more.
The Government and energy regulator Ofgem are working with interconnector operators "to ensure new access rules are approved in Great Britain and are providing support to interconnectors engaging with EU Member State authorities".
A separate paper said gas trading between Britain and Europe was not expected to change significantly in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
- Sanctions policy
The UK would "look to carry over" all sanctions imposed by the EU at the time of exit, according to the documents.
New sanctions and anti-money laundering laws should be in place by March 2019 but any sanctions regimes that have not been addressed would continue as powers retained under the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
"This means there will be no gaps in implementing existing sanctions regimes," the documents state.
- Regulating pesticides
The EU is currently responsible for regulating the manufacture of pesticides.
If Britain leaves without a deal, the Government says it will establish its own independent regulations and repatriate decision making on the products from the EU to the UK.
- Consumer rights
EU regulations currently govern consumer protection and allow people to buy products and services from anywhere in the bloc with the knowledge that the protections and safety standards are the same or similar in every member state.
But the Government warns a no-deal Brexit may cause “an impact on the extent to which UK consumers are protected when buying goods and services in the remaining member states”.
UK consumers will also no longer be able to use the UK courts effectively to seek redress from EU based traders.
- Structuring your business
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said firms were likely to face changes to the law "for example, this could involve meeting additional requirements in order to acquire real estate and/or requiring additional approvals to operate".
"Restrictions may be more burdensome for branches or representative offices, as opposed to subsidiaries which have their own legal identity and are incorporated in the EU member state concerned."
The guidance also warned UK citizens "may face restrictions on their ability to own, manage or direct a company registered in the EU", potentially needing to meet additional requirements on nationality or residency.
- Geo-blocking of online content
Geo-blocking is the process of blocking access to a website on the basis of an internet user’s EU nationality or place of residence within the EU.
New EU rules prohibiting Geo-blocking are due to kick in on December 3.
The regulation will also ban traders discriminating against customers on the basis of their nationality or place of residence when they are purchasing goods or services.
A no-deal Brexit would mean the UK version of the Geo-blocking Regulation will cease to have effect in UK law.
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The other technical notices cover:
- Exporting GM food and animal feed products
- Exporting objects of cultural interest
- Trading and moving endangered species protected by CITES
- Maintaining the continuity of waste shipments
- Existing free trade agreements
- Importing high-risk food and animal feed
- Control on mercury
- Control on persistent organic pollutants
- Regulating biocidal products
- Classifying, labelling and packaging chemicals
- Health marks on meat, fish and dairy products
- Export and import of hazardous chemicals
- Accounting and audit
- Providing services including those of a qualified professional
- Geo-blocking of online content
- Taking horses abroad