Salmon Scotland, the trade body that represents the industry, has expressed its frustration over ongoing red tape which has now cost an estimated £12million extra since Brexit.

Commenting Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:

“Four years on since Brexit, our farmers continue to face excessive red tape, while progress at smoothing trade flow and opening new markets remains painfully slow.

“Defra ministers need to urgently prioritise the UK’s largest food export, and I will be enlisting further support from other parts of government.

“International demand for Scottish salmon, rightly considered the best in the world, is incredibly high – and with less bureaucracy we could further grow exports.

“This in turn would generate millions of pounds for the Scottish and UK economies.”

Overseas Scottish salmon sales outperformed all the UK’s other main food exports including bakery goods, chocolate, cheese, cereals and lamb in 2022.

Fresh, whole Scottish salmon export sales were £578 million in 2022 with the EU accounting for almost 64% of sales. France is the largest market, followed by the USA.

Although international demand remains incredibly high for Scottish salmon measures to smooth trade flow and open new markets remain “painfully slow” as the UK nears the fourth anniversary of leaving the EU. The advisory referendum on leaving the EU was held on 23rd June 2016. There was a narrow vote to Leave, 51.9% in the UK as a whole. Scotland voted 62% to Remain in the EU. Although the referendum was not legally binding MPs in the House of Commons went ahead and on 26th of June 2018 The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill received Royal Assent and became an Act of Parliament: the European Union (Withdrawal) Act. A transition period lasted from 1st February 2020 ending on 31st of December 2020 at 11pm.

Fiona Grahame