Food & Drink Export Council

UK Food and Drink Export Council launched

Thursday 26th January 2023

DIT has announced the establishment of a new UK wide Food & Drink Export Council. Gráinne Moody, Invest NI’s Food & Drink Manager has been appointed to the Council & will bring her considerable knowledge of the industry to the role. The Food and Drink Export Council (FDEC) is a collaborative expert committee, co-chaired by DIT and industry, focused on boosting UK food and drink exports.

The FDEC has been set up following a recommendation from the Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) in 2021. The TAC was an independent advisory board set up to advise and inform the government’s trade policies.

This is a working level group, comprised of representatives from:

  • the Department for International Trade (DIT)
  • the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
  • devolved administrations
  • industry bodies
  • a selection of dynamic and innovative businesses

Members work together in a shared endeavour to boost food and drink exports. Members of the Council provide a range of relevant knowledge and ensure representation across the UK and the food and drink sector.

The FDEC will use a collaborative approach. It will harness expertise and resource from the UK government and devolved administrations and industry in a collective endeavour to increase UK agriculture, food, and drink exports.

The group will not set government policy or make decisions on behalf of government. It is not a lobbying body. The group has no remit to discuss strategic trade policy, negotiations of free trade agreements, or areas of devolved or reserved competence.

The FDEC will meet at least on a quarterly basis. The FDEC has an initial 18-month term, with periodic reviews to ensure it delivers in line with its terms of reference.

Commenting on her role on the new council, Ms Moody says: I’m delighted to represent Northern Ireland on the Food & Drink Export Council. I will work with partners across the UK to position Northern Ireland’s Food and Drink sector and ensure that the voice of the sector is heard. “   

The Council is co-chaired by the Minister for Exports, Andrew Bowie MP, and Ian Wright CBE.

Current members are:

  • Ian Wright CBE (Co-chair)
  • Andy Richardson, Volac
  • Anthony Mulley, Quorn Foods
  • Dominic Goudie, Food and Drink Federation
  • Donna Fordyce, Seafood Scotland
  • Ewen Cameron, Scottish Development International
  • Grainne Moody, Invest Northern Ireland
  • Helen Dallimore, Coombe Castle International
  • Iain Baxter, Scotland Food and Drink
  • Keith Smyton, Welsh Government Food Division
  • Lee Hemmings, Belvoir Farm
  • Margaret Boanas, International Meat Trade Association
  • Michael Bell OBE, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association
  • Nick von Westenholz, National Farmers Union
  • Patricia Dillon, Speyside Distillers
  • Phil Hadley, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
  • Rachel Gwyon, DIT
  • Sandra Sullivan MBE, Food and Drink Exporters Association
  • Tee Sandhu, SamosaCo
  • Tim Brooks, Defra

The work of the FDEC is supported by a secretariat provided by DIT. The secretariat can be contacted at fdec@trade.gov.uk.

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