Nine in ten UK Businesses want the UK Government to secure healthy post-Brexit trade deals

24 April 2019, FPH Policy & Communications Team

This is one of the findings published by the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) in our Blueprint for a public health approach to post-Brexit trade agreements, ‘Negotiating a ‘healthy’ trade policy for the UK’. The research commissioned by FPH saw ComRes survey 505 business leaders across the UK in January 2019.

Prof John Middleton, President of the UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH), said: “Business leaders and the public health community agree that the health of the nation is one of our country’s biggest assets, and if we want to continue to compete on a global stage after Brexit, we must protect it.

“One way we can protect the public’s health after Brexit is by securing trade deals with high public health standards, which effect so many aspects of everyday life from air quality to food safety. This is why FPH has developed a blueprint for a public health approach to post-Brexit trade negotiations that we urge the Government to adopt as the UK leaves the EU.

“We look forward to working in unity with the Government and business sector to ensure the UK’s future trade policies will do no harm to the public’s health and seize the opportunity to better it.”

Key findings reveal that:

  • The majority of UK business leaders (94%) think it is important that future trade deals have high public health standards after Brexit. This reveals their desire to avoid a ‘race to the bottom’.
  • The majority of business leaders (92%) agree that the business community has a responsibility to help ensure the health and wellbeing of the UK workforce (88% for the UK population respectively).
  • 87% of business leaders agree that current public health rules, regulations and protections help to support the health and wellbeing of the UK workforce however 61% agree that they don’t go far enough.
  • 83% agree that public health regulations help to support sustainable economic development
  • A similar proportion (85%) agree that the Government should consider how post-Brexit trade deals will impact the UK workforce before reaching final agreement.
  • When asked how to ensure that public health standards are maintained 77% of business leaders agreed that leaders in the health community should have a ‘seat at the table’ alongside the business community in the negotiation of post-Brexit trade deals.

The ‘blueprint’ for a public health approach to post-Brexit trade deals is supported by 26 organisations from across the business and health sector and includes a set of six ‘healthy’ trade principles for the UK Government to consider adopting.

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Notes to editors:

  • Click here to read and download the Faculty of Public Health’s (FPH) Blueprint for a public health approach to post-Brexit trade agreements, called ‘Negotiating a ‘healthy’ trade policy for the UK’
  • ComRes interviewed 505 UK business leaders (managers and above) in businesses with 50+ employees between 21 and 23 January 2019. Data were weighted by region. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Data can be found at www.comresglobal.com.

About the UK Faculty of Public Health

FPH is a membership organisation for 4,000 public health professionals from across the UK and around the world, and is a registered charity. Our role is to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities and national populations. We support the training of public health professionals and campaign to improve health policy in partnership with local and national governments.

For further information, please contact the press office:

Tel: 020 3696 1478
Email: news@fph.org.uk

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