FIPA – the Federation of Portuguese Agri-Food Industries – conveyed its concern to the Government regarding the strike notice issued by freight drivers and drivers of hazardous materials, warning of the potential economic and social consequences.
In this regard, he called for prioritization of this sector with regard to minimum services.
According to FIPA, if the strike goes ahead, it is likely that, in a short period of time, there will be disruptions in the food supply chain, both in the delivery of food and beverage products to distributors and in the receipt of agricultural and livestock raw materials. “Our members have already expressed concern about the potential loss of enormous volumes of raw materials already contracted on farms, such as milk (with very limited collection and processing deadlines) and fruit and vegetables, as well as the lack of feed for animals on livestock farms, compromising animal welfare and consequently leading to their death ,” indicates Jorge Tomás Henriques, president of the Federation, who also anticipates, in the worst-case scenario, “a widespread paralysis of the supply of food products, such as flour for baking, or of ship unloading for refineries and mills, with congestion at the ports.”
In this regard, given the seriousness of the situation, FIPA appeals to the common sense of all parties to avoid the consequences that this announced strike will have on the normal food supply for the population.
