Government has urged businesses to start preparing for the change
The UK government has revealed that it is working towards a mid-2027 start date for a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU.
The government is currently in negotiations over a deal that would free up British food and farming businesses from mountains of paperwork, unnecessary delays and spiralling costs. Defra secretary Emma Reynolds said the deal will cut red tape and open up opportunities for growth for large and small importers and exporters across the country.
“We are resetting our relationship with the EU, our closest and largest trading partner, to make trade easier and cheaper, and deliver tangible benefits for British businesses,” Reynolds said.
“We are talking about real businesses, real employers: the Somerset cheesemaker with export trade halved, the Welsh shellfish trader turning down orders because their catch isn’t fresh by the time the paperwork is done, the Scottish farmer who can no longer sell seed potatoes to customers they’ve supplied for decades.
“By reducing delays and unnecessary paperwork, this deal will help keep shelves stocked, protect jobs and put downward pressure on food price inflation for families across the country. British businesses deserve better and we will work hand-in-hand with them to ensure this deal is a success.”
The government wants companies in the agri-food sector – including those that do not currently trade with the EU – to start getting ready for the mid-2027 target date now. It aims to finalise negotiations and ink a deal late this year.
Preparation for businesses should include engaging with their relevant trade body or industry association, engaging with their supply chain to understand any changes that may apply to them, signing up to Defra email alerts for regular updates, and responding to Defra’s Call for Information to share views on what support they need to prepare.
Reynolds said the deal will remove costs such as the £200 for Export Health Certificates for agri-food goods; Phytosanitary Certificates costing approximately £25 alongside inspection fees of at least £127.60; and sampling, which can add around £440 to a load of apples.
Industry response
The NFU said it is engaging with the government and European Commission to advocate for a deal that supports a “thriving, productive and profitable farming sector” in Britain.
Key to achieving this will be ensuring British farmers and growers have enough time to adapt to new rules where there has been divergence since the UK left the EU, it stressed.
The union wants to see a transitional arrangement for rules on organic practices, plant protection and biocidal products so British farmers don’t face a cliff-edge scenario.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “The main thing we’re hearing from our members is the need for a sufficient transition period. Farming is a long-term business – many farmers are making production decisions now that will impact food sold beyond mid-2027.
“The government has said it is considering transitional arrangements for some sectors. If this agreement is to work for the British farming sector, it cannot be bound by an impractical deadline which will only increase the cost of producing food, both for the domestic and EU market. We need government to take a pragmatic approach and give farmers the time needed to adjust.
“The SPS agreement covers hundreds of pieces of regulation, and it’s important Defra takes time to explain to farmers and growers how alignment with the EU rules could affect their businesses.
“We want to hear about any concerns members have over the implementation of the SPS agreement so we can provide a clear picture to government of what is needed to ensure farmers and growers can benefit from this deal.”
Alex Freudmann, managing director of M&S Food, said: “It’s good to see that the government’s EU reset is moving forward, with a renewed commitment to implementation in mid-2027.
“The sooner this deal is done the better – it will remove unnecessary bureaucracy between the EU and the UK, easing cost pressures on serving our customers across Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It will also give much-needed relief to British farmers in exporting meat, fruit and veg into Europe.
“It’s now time for all businesses to prepare for this shift so we can make the most of the opportunity. We’ll be getting to work with our suppliers right away.”
Head of trade policy at Logistics UK, James Mills, said: “The progress announced today regarding a new SPS agreement with the EU will be welcomed by businesses of all sizes. Fixing the friction at the border and removing unnecessary red tape will give businesses renewed confidence in trading with the EU, and help boost economic growth nationwide, because when the UK trades more easily, it grows.
“It is now essential that negotiations progress as quickly as possible so the new UK-EU SPS agreement can be delivered as expected by mid-2027. We will continue to work with the government to ensure the concerns of our members and the wider industry are heard to ensure a smooth implementation of the new trading regime from day one.”
