THE latest raft of Brexit documents has laid bare the "grisly prospect" of a no-deal with the likelihood of upheaval to flights, chaos at ports, disruption to food supplies and increased business costs, the UK Government has been warned.
The new no-deal guidance from Whitehall suggested that if the UK withdrew from the EU without an agreement, then airlines would have to obtain individual permissions to operate between the UK and the EU.
The documents stated that the UK "would envisage" allowing EU airlines to continue flying and "we would expect EU countries to reciprocate in turn".
It added: "It would not be in the interest of any EU country or the UK to restrict the choice of destinations that could be served, though if such permissions are not granted, there could be disruption to some flights."
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has repeatedly warned that flights could be grounded if an aviation deal were not reached as part of the Brexit negotiations.
Flights between the UK and 17 non-EU countries such as the US, Canada, Switzerland and Iceland, currently operate due to the UK being a member of the EU.
The guidance stated that "replacement arrangements will be in place before exit day" and noted how the UK had already reached agreements with a number of these countries and was "confident the remaining agreements will be agreed well in advance of the UK leaving the EU".
The latest technical notices also made clear motorists travelling on the continent would have to ensure they had an insurance "Green Card" in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Currently, the EU operates a Green Card-free circulation area, meaning drivers do not have to produce evidence of insurance at the border of each EEA member state.
Yet if the UK left the EU next March with no-deal, then access to the scheme would cease to apply and motorists would need to carry a Green Card as proof of third party motor insurance cover when driving in the EU, EEA, Andorra, Serbia and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, pet owners hoping to travel to Europe with their pets could have to discuss their plans with their vet at least four months in advance, depending on what category of "third country" the UK became if it quit the EU without a deal.
Simon Doherty of the British Veterinary Association warned: "It's highly likely that owners will not only be affected by veterinary capacity shortfalls but also face long waits and additional costs for giving an animal the all-clear to leave the UK.”
Michael Russell, the Scottish Government's Constitutional Relations Secretary, said the latest technical papers "expose more starkly than anything we have yet seen just how disastrous a no-deal Brexit could be."
He explained: "The UK Government's own guidance could not be clearer about the economic harm and chaos which could ensue; including grounded flights, border post delays and food supply disruption."
Ian Wright, Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation, said his industry would be hit by "ever more" administrative burdens in the event of a no-deal.
He said the official confirmation of just how bad such a scenario would be was “bound to encourage businesses and shoppers to consider - now - stockpiling, buying ahead, hedging currency risk, procuring additional warehousing, relocating production to the EU, and other practical measures to secure supply”.
These actions, he said, would, in turn, increase prices and begin to distort markets immediately.
Mike Spicer of the British Chambers of Commerce said there would be “major concerns in industries like aviation and road haulage, that operate routinely across borders at European scale, that their markets will be fragmented by new licensing or regulatory frameworks".
Dominic Raab, the Brexit Secretary, admitted under a no-deal there were “some risks of short-term disruption” but added: “We're giving the information so that everyone knows what they need to do well in advance."
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