A potential ban on the beloved British oatcake is emerging as a significant hurdle in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's efforts to reset the UK's relationship with the European Union.
The Mycotoxin Menace
The core of the issue lies in EU regulations concerning naturally-occurring mycotoxins in oats. These substances can proliferate in crops like oats when grown in damper, coastal climates, such as the one found across much of Britain.
Last year, the European Commission introduced stricter restrictions on permissible mycotoxin levels in foods sold within the bloc. While high consumption of these toxins can be damaging to human health, a 2014 Food Standards Agency study found that toxin levels in UK oat-based foods were comfortably below the tolerable daily intake.
Despite this, the concern for British farmers is stark. During damp, warm seasons, a substantial portion of the UK's oat harvest could be deemed unfit for human consumption under these EU rules, rendering the crop unsellable.
A Reset Deal's Unintended Consequences
The problem is exacerbated by the government's push to realign UK agricultural policy with Brussels as part of its post-Brexit reset. Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), has described this reset as a direct threat to cereal farmers.
He told The Times that the EU's regulatory change is already limiting exports in wet years. However, the greater fear is that the reset deal would mean the UK must apply this stricter regulation domestically.
"That would be devastating for farmers," Mr Bradshaw warned, "who could be faced with an entire crop that is unsellable as well as threatening supply of produce such as porridge oats and oatcakes."
Seeking a Carve-Out in Negotiations
The government has acknowledged that its new food and drink deal with the EU, which could add up to £5.1 billion annually to the economy, will require some areas where UK rules are retained.
A government spokesperson confirmed that in May, both sides agreed there would be "some areas where we have a carve out from EU rules." However, they remained cautious, stating, "We won’t get ahead of the talks starting next week," leaving the fate of the humble oatcake hanging in the balance.
The situation echoes the post-Brexit "sausage wars," where the movement of chilled meats became a symbolic battleground. Now, the crumbly oatcake finds itself at the centre of a new political food fight, testing the limits of the UK's renewed diplomatic efforts with Brussels.
