Brexit bureaucracy stopping shellfish imports to EU is ‘devastating blow’ for industry, government admits

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An EU ban on British shellfish imports because of new Brexit bureaucracy is a “devastating blow” for the industry, the government has admitted. The minister said it was “in the EU’s interest to restore this trade” so its businesses could buy British shellfish, but Brussels has said the rules have existed for decades and are not about to change. Recommended Fears for future of shellfish firms over Brexit export ban But the UK industry is not set up to work in this way because it was not a requirement inside the single market. Responding to an urgent question on shellfish exports in the Commons, Mr Eustice said: “We continue to believe that our interpretation of the law and the EU's original interpretation is correct, and that the trade should be able to continue for all relevant molluscs from April and that there is no reason for a gap at all for molluscs from aquaculture.” He added: “Bringing an end to this traditional and valuable trade is unacceptable and I recognise that this is a devastating blow to those business that are reliant on the trade.