EU rules preventing UK companies from exporting unprocessed shellfish to the continent go against the spirit of the trade deal signed by Boris Johnson in December, a Brexiteer MP has claimed.
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Shellfish cannot be imported into the EU without being processed (Image: GETTY)
However, he added: “The live bivalve business covers everyone from the heritage sail-powered dredgers to multi-million-pound businesses that in the event that there is no resolution of the situation will go bust very quickly and will lose certainly far more than £23million as well as countless jobs, mortgage payments but as importantly the massive commitment of many people who have spent years building up their business, and put in not just money but blood sweat and tears.”
In general, shellfish such as oysters, mussels, clams, cockles and scallops are not suitable for human consumption in their pure state, and require purification in the EU before they can be distributed to supermarkets, restaurants and bars.