A shortage of vets and toxicologists to monitor food safety could leave consumers and businesses at risk, MPs have warned.
In a new report the Commons Public Accounts Committee said British regulators are “struggling to recruit and retain the skills they need to regulate effectively” in their new and expanded roles after Brexit.
Cross-party MPs pinpointed a shortage of vets to monitor food safety and animal welfare in abattoirs, as well as toxicologists to assess food risks and chemical safety.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) described the current situation as "hand-to-mouth" when it came to recruiting and retaining vets in sufficient numbers.
Lawyers and economists are also in short supply to enforce competition law, according to the report, with regulators "competing with the private sector".
It also highlighted that the development of long-term regulatory strategies after Brexit has been slow, "and the future direction of regulation remains unclear".
Dame Meg Hillier, who chairs the committee, said: "Government’s poor preparation and planning have combined with international political realities and the result is exposure of UK consumers and businesses to greater risks and costs."
She added: "Six years after the Brexit vote and with key international trade agreements still dangling years out of sight, repeated delays to implementing a new import regime continue to impact British businesses and increase risks for consumers.
"The effects of potential headcount reductions of up to 40% across government are unclear but, if implemented, would make current regulatory models unsustainable without fundamental reform including changes to legislation."
A Government spokesperson said: “The Government is committed to taking full advantage of the benefits of Brexit, which is why we are pushing ahead with our Retained EU Law Bill, which will end the special legal status of all retained EU law by 2023.
“This will allow us to ensure our regulations best fit the needs of the country, removing needless bureaucracy to stimulate economic growth and cement the UK’s positions as a world-class place to start and grow a business.”
