The UK sheep industry may be in an unstable position after Brexit finally takes place, as new import duties will not apply to deliveries from such large exporting countries as Australia and New Zealand.

The National Association of Sheep Breeders (NSA) has voiced their concern that the lack of a Brexit deal will still lead to a significant increase in lamb in the domestic market.

Now there is a risk that New Zealand and Australia will have quotas for duty-free annual deliveries of sheep meat to England in the amount of 114,000 tons and 45,000, respectively, which will collapse the domestic market and lower product prices.

The National Association of Sheep Breeders and other agricultural bodies have long been warning about the risks of free trade agreements with countries that are large sheep countries, such as New Zealand and Australia. The Association advises that despite the government recognizing the importance and sensitivity of national sheep farming, the UK still has there is no agreed food strategy that would allow the industry to adapt and align production and supply of brit English product.