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<p>We remain focused on ensuring our smooth and orderly withdrawal from the EU with
a deal as soon as possible. However, as a responsible Government we have been preparing
to minimise any disruption in the event of a no deal.</p><p> </p><p>Defra Ministers
and officials have been meeting regularly with the food and farming industry to understand
the potential impacts of a no deal scenario in October and to support contingency
planning by industry. This has included working to understand storage capacity in
the UK at that time of year and the likely industry-led response to any potential
disruption.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is developing a number of potential interventions
to help sheep producers should assistance be required in the event of EU exit without
a Withdrawal Agreement. Our preference is to consider financial support to farmers
to offset part of the lost income caused by market disruption rather than to purchase
and store lamb. There is insufficient storage capacity to intervene in the lamb market
in any meaningful way and the likely worst case scenarios are best addressed through
income support in the short term.</p><p> </p><p>Ultimately our aim is to continue
trading and exporting our sheep meat post 1 November 2019. With third country listing
from the EU, we will continue to be able to export lamb to the EU, and our exports
to third countries will not be affected.</p><p> </p><p>The expertise, capability,
levers and resilience to plan for and respond to supply chain disruption lies within
the industry, and Defra will continue its close working with industry to support their
contingency planning.</p>
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