Key Workers Essential Travel Template

There have been reports of workers in the food supply chain (including feed) being stopped by police when travelling for work purposes.

Employers are advised to issue a letter to all staff members for any essential travel they make. This should be on official, company-headed paper, certifying that the named individual who holds the letter is deemed a key worker in the agricultural and food/feed supply chain. Staff should carry the letter with them at all times, including when travelling to and from work or when in the lorry if a haulage driver.

[INSERT DATE HERE]

Food and farming industry key worker

To whom it may concern,

This letter is to confirm that [INSERT NAME] is involved in food production at [INSERT COMPANY/ BUSINESS].

They are working in the farming and food supply chain and are currently classified as a key worker as defined below in the Coronavirus Bill of 09 March 2020

[INSERT NATURE OF KEY WORKER ACTIVITY].  This is essential to maintain national food security, food safety and animal welfare.  

[INSERT NAME] is aware of current Government guidelines on essential travel for key workers during the Coronavirus 19 emergency.

Please contact me on [INSERT PHONE NUMBER HERE] if you have any questions about this letter. 

Yours faithfully,

[ENTER NAME]

[ENTER POSITION IN THE BUSINESS]

Coronavirus Bill, House of Comms, 09 March 2020, Bill 122

(Part 1: Main provisions, page 19)

27 Meaning of “food supply chain” and related expressions

(1) This section has effect for the purposes of sections 23 to 26.

(2) A “food supply chain” is a supply chain for providing individuals with items of food or drink for personal consumption, where the items consist of or include, or have been produced to any extent using—

(a) anything grown or otherwise produced in carrying on agriculture, or

(b) anything taken, grown or otherwise produced in carrying on fishing or aquaculture.

(3) The persons “in” a food supply chain are—

(a) the persons carrying on the agriculture, fishing or aquaculture (“producers”), and

(b) any persons in the supply chain between the producers and the individuals referred to in subsection (2) (“intermediaries”).

(4) The persons “closely connected” with a food supply chain are—

(a) persons supplying seeds, stock, equipment, feed, fertiliser, pesticides or similar items to producers for use in agriculture, fishing or aquaculture,

(b) persons providing goods or services to producers or intermediaries, where the goods or services relate to—

(i) the safety or quality of food or drink, or

(ii) the welfare of animals, and

(c) bodies representing persons in or closely connected with a food supply chain by virtue of the preceding provisions of this section.

(5) In this section—

“agriculture” includes any growing of plants, and any keeping of animals, for the production of food or drink;

“aquaculture” means the breeding, rearing, growing or cultivation of—

(a) any fish or other aquatic animal,

(b) seaweed or any other aquatic plant, or

(c) any other aquatic organism;

“plants” includes fungi;

“seeds” includes bulbs and other things from which plants grow