Trade bodies across the supply chain have urged the government to create a compensation scheme for losses incurred due to the French border closure.
Heads of food organisations – including the Food and Drink Federation, the Fresh Produce Consortium, the UK Food and Drink Exporters Association and the Chilled Food Association – have written an open letter to George Eustice, environment secretary, and Grant Shapps, transport secretary, calling for immediate action for businesses caught up in the blockade.
Calamitous decision
“The decision of the French authorities – to ban accompanied freight on 20 December 2020 – after the announcement by the UK government of the new strain of virus has caused a calamity for many food and drink businesses,” said the letter.
UK and France agree deal on mass Covid testing of lorry drivers as travel ban lifts
Mobile units will administer tests to at least 6,000 freight drivers stranded in UK amid hopes of end to ports chaos
22 December 2020 • 9:45pm
Britain struck a deal on Tuesday night for France to lift its travel ban and allow the mass testing of freight drivers in a bid to end the ports chaos.
Mobile units, overseen by Army logistics experts, will administer the tests to at least 6,000 freight drivers stranded in the UK, but Government sources admitted it would take several days to clear the truckers.
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