UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement

Emma Reynolds Excerpts

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Reynolds)]

The Government and the European Commission agreed in May 2025 to pursue a new sanitary and phytosanitary agreement that will make it easier, cheaper and quicker to move food, plants, animals and related goods across our borders.

British businesses throughout the agrifood and related sectors currently face unnecessary costs, burdens and delays when trading with our closest and largest market. The agreement will address these issues:

Businesses will save money. Those trading with the EU—both exporters and importers, large and small—will benefit from less money spent on complex paperwork at the border. Routine border checks by port health authorities that currently apply to dairy, fish, eggs and red meat imports will be removed, reducing fees, costs associated with queuing and delays, and lowering the risk of spoilage.

Trade will flow faster. Fresh produce will reach supermarket shelves more quickly. Supply chains will become more resilient, strengthening food security here and in Europe. And for the first time since Brexit, agrifoods will move without physical checks and excessive paperwork between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Markets will be unlocked. Trade in products such as fresh sausages and burgers, certain types of shellfish and seed potatoes will resume, supporting British businesses to expand their production. Consumers on both sides of the Channel will have greater access to the high-quality products they value and will ease pressures on food price inflation.

Negotiations are expected to conclude in the coming months, and we are aiming for businesses to be ready for, and benefit from, the deal from mid-2027.

Businesses of course need clarity, time and support to prepare. The agreement will require all businesses affected to align with relevant elements of EU SPS legislation, and this may necessitate adjustments to, for example, processing methods, certification and labelling requirements, IT systems, and other aspects of compliance and assurance. This will apply to all businesses in the relevant sectors, regardless of whether they export to or import from the European Union. We are committed to providing timely, sector-specific guidance as soon as negotiations allow.

To that end, we are today publishing details on which legislation is in scope of the agreement, the broad changes this will entail and the sectors that will therefore be affected. We are also stating clearly our ambition for businesses to be able to benefit from the deal in mid-2027.

We know that some sectors will need more time and support than others to be ready and are today launching a call for information so that businesses can tell us what support and guidance they need. We will use that information to co-design and deliver support and guidance with businesses through to mid-2027. This will be further supported by a new stakeholder advisory board.

Businesses can already begin taking steps to get ready: engaging with trade bodies, signing up for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs alerts, and considering how potential changes may affect their operations.

The sanitary and phytosanitary agreement will mark a major stride in resetting and modernising our relationship with the EU, grounded in our shared interests, common challenges and practical co-operation. It will deliver real benefits for British businesses. By preparing now, businesses can ensure that they are ready to make the most of those opportunities from day one.

I will continue to update the House as negotiations progress and as further guidance becomes available.

[HCWS1381]