UK-EU SPS Agreement to Speed Food Trade

The UK Government announced a forthcoming sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the European Union that will remove most routine border checks on food and agricultural products, reduce paperwork, and speed trade between the UK and the EU.

• Main announcement: The SPS agreement will scrap most routine documentary and physical border checks on UK food and agricultural exports to the EU, remove Export Health Certificates, and reopen previously banned product lines (e.g., fresh sausages, burgers, some shellfish, seed potatoes). The government estimates this will make trade with the UK’s biggest market faster, easier and cheaper, adding up to £5.1bn a year to the UK economy and saving businesses up to £200 per shipment by removing Export Health Certificates (with single lorries carrying mixed animal loads potentially seeing £1000s in reduced costs). The agreement is described as “forthcoming” and savings apply once the agreement is completed and in force.
• Details and context: The Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner toured Dunbia’s Cardington plant and visited the Co-op’s Biggleswade distribution centre (meeting Supply Chain Director Nick Cornwell, Logistics Director Ian Gibb, and Head of Public Affairs Andrew Weston) to discuss the agreement. The government states risk-based surveillance and biosecurity measures will continue until the agreement is completed and in force. No specific implementation timeline or legal entry-into-force date was provided in the announcement.