扒哥吃瓜

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds set out today听(Monday听9听March)听how听UK听exporters听and importers are expected to听benefit听from the new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement听as the government negotiates to make trade with the UK鈥檚 biggest market听and closest neighbour听easier,听cheaper听and quicker.听

This will听free British food and farming businesses from the mountains of paperwork, unnecessary听delays听and spiralling costs of current arrangements,听cutting听red听tape,听opening opportunities for growth for large and small听importers and听exporters听across the country,听and听helping put British produce back on European tables.听

Since 2018, the value of exports of food and agricultural products to the EU have fallen by 22%, a drop of almost 拢4 billion in real terms.听That鈥檚 meant lost profits, shrinking markets听and, in the worst cases, businesses closing their doors.

Trade will flow faster, meaning imports of fresh produce will reach supermarket shelves more quickly and supply chains will become more resilient, strengthening food security here and in Europe.听This听creates听opportunities to听increase听choice for consumers and ease听pressures on food price inflation.听

Businesses will听benefit听from听a simpler,听cheaper听process听for听moving听most听agrifood听goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, protecting consumer choice in Northern Ireland and strengthening the UK internal market.听听听

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:听

We are听resetting听our听relationship with the EU, our closest听and听largest听trading听partner,听to听make听trade听easier and cheaper,听and deliver听tangible听benefits for British businesses.听听

We are talking about real businesses, real employers:听the Somerset cheesemaker听with听export trade halved,听the Welsh shellfish trader turning down orders because their catch isn鈥檛 fresh by the time the paperwork is done, the Scottish farmer who can no longer sell seed potatoes to customers they鈥檝e supplied for decades.听

By reducing delays and unnecessary paperwork, this deal will help keep shelves stocked, protect jobs and听put downward pressure on听food price听inflation听for families across the country.听听听

British businesses deserve better and we will work hand-in-hand with them to ensure this deal is a success.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:听

More great British produce will be on European tables thanks to this agreement which will reduce barriers for exporters and create new opportunities for farmers and businesses across all parts of the UK.听

By reducing paperwork for these exports, this deal will ensure our world鈥憀eading food and drink can reach customers all around Europe easier than ever before.

To help preparations, the government has today launched a six-week Call for Information to understand how it can best support businesses to make the most of this opportunity.听

The government has also published听more听detail on the scope听of the听agreement,听and听which听sectors听the听deal will听focus听on听to help all businesses understand and prepare for what is ahead.听

The government is working toward a mid-2027 start date for the new agreement听and听the听government听wants听businesses in the agri-food sector to start getting ready听now.听This includes those that do not currently trade with the EU.听

Since last May, the government has been engaging with businesses and trade associations to understand how the new deal听could听affect them.听The government听knows听that some businesses require longer to adjust to the new arrangements听and听will work with them to ensure a smooth transition.听

The costs听to businesses听expected to be听removed听by听the deal include:听

• Export Health Certificates听costing听up to 拢200 for agri-food goods听

• Phytosanitary Certificates听costing听approximately 拢25 alongside inspection fees of at least 拢127.60听

• Organic Certificates of Inspection,听required听for the export of organic lamb and cheese,听costing听on average 拢35听

• Port Health Authority (PHA) identity check fees on meat and dairy exports听adding听拢31 per load on average听

• Sampling which can add approximately 拢1,200 to a cheese load, 拢1,400 to a salmon shipment, 拢440 to a load of apples, and 拢1,200 to a beef load听

The government is aiming to finalise negotiations听on听smoother听trade and secure the best deal for UK businesses听later this year, so听they听can begin to reap the benefits from mid-2027. While negotiations听remain听ongoing, businesses are being encouraged to take early steps to prepare for the changes ahead.听

Under the deal, the government has committed UK businesses involved in the production or processing of plants, food,听animals听and animal products to aligning with EU rules. This applies to domestic producers and those trading with the rest of the world, meaning businesses that do not currently export may also need to adapt their practices.听

Businesses should continue to follow the current trading requirements until any new agreement takes effect. This includes continued compliance with the Windsor Framework until such time the agreement removes the need.听

Alex听Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food said:听

It鈥檚 good to see that the Government鈥檚 EU reset is moving forward, with a renewed commitment to implementation in mid-2027.听听

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听Ireland听and听the Republic of Ireland. It will also give much needed relief to British farmers in exporting meat, fruit and veg into Europe.

It鈥檚 now time for all businesses to prepare for this shift so we can make the most of the opportunity - we鈥檒l be getting to work with our suppliers right away.鈥澨�

Bas Padberg, UK Managing Director, Arla Foods said:听

The progress being made on reducing friction in the UK-EU trading relationship will be good news for Arla and our farmer owners, as well as for consumers, for food security, and for growing exports into Europe.听听

Making sure these changes deliver the maximum benefit for everyone is vitally important, which is why we strongly welcome government鈥檚 commitment to work with businesses and other stakeholders on getting the practical details right.

Sean Ramsden, CEO of Ramsden International said:听

We鈥檙e听extremely excited by the forthcoming UK-EU SPS Agreement, which we听firmly believe听will re-open the European market to the amazing assortment of British food and drink we export.听听

The system since Brexit has made exporting to the EU complicated and expensive, so eradicating this friction should allow us to make significant gains and recover much of the revenues lost听as a result of听Brexit. Truly a win for both British suppliers, and European consumers.

What businesses can do now

While negotiations continue, businesses can take practical steps to get ready:听

• Engage with听their听relevant trade body or industry association:听They will be key partners in听providing听sector-specific guidance and many are already working with government to help members prepare.听

• Engage with your supply chain:听To understand any changes that may apply to them.听

• Sign up to Defra email alerts for regular updates:听To receive the latest information on negotiations, implementation timelines, and details of guidance and support available, businesses can .
• Respond to the Call for Information:听And share views on what support听their business needs to prepare through .

Detailed guidance will be published as negotiations progress to ensure businesses 鈥� from farmers and processors to retailers and hauliers 鈥� are ready to听benefit听from day one. For more information, visit SPS agreement: preparing your business - 扒哥吃瓜

ENDS听

Notes to听editors听听

• The SPS agreement covers regulations on food safety, animal health, plant听health听and animal welfare products traded between the UK and EU. It will streamline health and safety standards, reducing checks and paperwork at the border.听听

• Approximately听500,000 businesses are expected to be affected.鈥疶his includes businesses听operating听entirely within Great Britain who do not currently trade directly with the EU, as well as exporters and importers.听听

• Data covering the value of exports of food and agricultural products to the EU is available here, UK trade in Food, Feed and Drink Collection - 扒哥吃瓜.

• The government is working toward a mid-2027 start date for the new agreement.听Detailed, sector-specific guidance will be published once negotiations conclude, expected later in 2026.听听

• The government is launching a Call for Information on SPS Implementation to gather sector-specific intelligence on business readiness听needs听and听help听shape detailed business guidance and support measures.听

Costs expected to be removed:听

• Export Health Certificates cost up to 拢200 for agri-food goods听

• Phytosanitary Certificates cost approximately 拢25 alongside inspection fees of at least 拢127.60听

• Organic Certificates of Inspection,听required听for the export of organic lamb and cheese, cost on average 拢35听

• Port Health Authority (PHA) identity check fees on meat and dairy exports adds 拢31 per load on average听

• Sampling can add approximately 拢1,200 to a cheese load, 拢1,400 to a salmon shipment, 拢440 to a load of apples, and 拢1,200 to a beef load听

Costs expected to be reduced听

• For beef and salmon, queueing times for checks can add costs of up to 拢149 per load听

• Additional听driver charges, paid to听hauliers听for border-related friction, typically 拢200 per shipment