The Dutch government has warned farmers and market gardeners to properly prepare for Britain’s departure from the EU so they are not faced with ‘surprises’.

For example, waiting times for border checks may mount up and increased import taxes will also have to be taken into account, the government said in a statement.

‘Cooperation is of major importance within the Dutch agro sector to make sure that fresh products such as cucumbers and tomatoes reach British clients as soon as possible after Britain’s withdrawal from the EU,’ the statement said.

Last November the customs department urged companies exporting to Britain to draw up a plan to cope with the new regulations and ABN Amro has warned that the transport sector is particularly vulnerable to the impact of Brexit.

British food industry experts have also warned that tomatoes are one of the products which could disappear from supermarket shelves in the event of a no deal Brexit. Britain is a major destination for Dutch-grown tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

Emergency laws

Meanwhile, the Christian Democrats and D66 continue to have ‘major objections’ to the emergency law which foreign minister Stef Blok plans to enact in the case of a no-deal Brexit.

Despite amendments following earlier objections, they are still concerned the the law would give ministers the right to withdraw or amend a law without parliamentary approval, broadcaster NOS reported on Monday.

Instead, they say that the extra powers should last for six months at most, and that parliament should have to approve all changes to legislation within 10 weeks.

‘Parliament cannot be completely sidelined,’ D66 MP Kees Verhoeven said. ‘These changes would bring back balance to the bill.’

MPs will debate the proposal next week.