Food industry proposes ‘Covid recovery visa’ after warnings of surplus pig cull

As many as 70,000 animals that should have gone to slaughter are stranded on UK farms amid staff shortages, NPA says

Britain's food and drink industry is calling on the government to introduce a Covid-19 recovery visa" to recruit overseas workers to ease disruption in the food supply chain, amid warnings from UK pig producers that healthy animals may be culled because of a labour shortage.

Trade associations representing all areas of the UK's food chain - including the National Farmers' Union, the Road Haulage Association, the Food and Drink Federation and the British Meat Processors Association - have sent a report to government, urging ministers to act to ensure continuity, quality and choice in Britain's food supply.