Don’t forget impact of Brexit on the shooting industry

Shooting in post-Brexit Britain is an issue that must not be forgotten during negotiations, Membersof the European Parliament have been told.

The Countryside Alliance and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), representing FACE UK, held a series of meetings with senior MEPs at the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week to stress the importance of maintaining and developing trade and travel opportunities for shooting post Brexit.

The talks were arranged by FACE, the umbrella organisation representing 7 million shooters and hunters in Europe who generate €16 billion to the European economy every year, which includes FACE UK who represents the leading sporting and conservation groups in this country.

The talks provided an important opportunity to highlight key issues which will impact hunters and shooters both in the UK and Europe as a result of Brexit, not just to UK MEPs but also representatives from other Member States including German MEP, Karl-Heinz Florenz, president of the European Parliament’s Countryside Intergroup.

The meetings took place to inform the second phase of the Brexit negotiations on the UK’s new relationship with Europe ahead of Britain’s departure from the EU on 29 March 2019. The Countryside Alliance has held similar meetings with MPs and Ministers in Westminster, including the Brexit Minister, Lord Callanan.

Countryside Alliance head of political, James Legge, said: ‘Given the enormous importance of hunting and shooting to the UK economy and to the economies of other EU Member States we must continue to take every opportunity to ensure that this is recognised in both the UK and EU by all those involved at every level of the Brexit negotiations.

‘From game exports and seasonal workers to the movement of people, animals and firearms there is everything to play for. This message needs to be heard loud and clear in Europe and UK. The Countryside Alliance will continue to work closely with FACE and our FACE UK partners to give a voice to these issues up to, and beyond, Brexit Day.’

FACE is the European Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU (Fédération des Associations de Chasse et Conservation de la Faune Sauvage de l’UE ) representing 7million shooters and hunters across Europe.

FACE UK is the umbrella organisation which is a member of FACE, consisting of the UK’s leading sporting organisations: Association of Master Harriers and Beagles, British Association of Shooting and Conservation, British Falconers’ Club, British Shooting Sports Council, Countryside Alliance, Game Farmers Association, Master of Fox Hounds Association, Moorland Association, National Gamekeepers’ Organisation and the St Hubert Club of Great Britain.