Defra set out today (Monday 9 March 2026) how UK exporters and importers could benefit from a prospective Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement with the European Union. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said the objective is to make trade with the UK’s largest market easier, cheaper and quicker by removing avoidable documentation and streamlining checks.
Government statements frame the agreement as a response to the sustained fall in agri‑food exports to the EU since 2018, which Defra puts at 22%-a reduction of almost £4 billion in real terms. Ministers argue that lowering friction could help firms regain lost orders and reopen routes closed by current certification and sampling requirements.
Negotiations are ongoing, with a target to conclude later in 2026 and commence implementation from mid‑2027. To inform guidance and support, the Department for Business and Trade has opened a six‑week Call for Information, seeking evidence from farmers, processors, retailers, wholesalers and hauliers on readiness and where transitional assistance would be most effective.
Under the emerging model, UK businesses involved in the production or processing of plants, food, animals and animal products would align with relevant EU SPS rules. This alignment would apply across domestic operations as well as to firms trading with the rest of the world, so businesses that do not currently export to the EU may also need to update procedures, assurance documentation and training.
For movements within the UK, the government says most agri‑food goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland would face simpler and cheaper processes, supporting consumer choice and the functioning of the internal market. Until any new arrangements take effect, companies must continue meeting prevailing requirements, including obligations set by the Windsor Framework.
The policy package is expected to remove several recurring costs if agreed as outlined. Defra’s summary lists Export Health Certificates of up to £200 per consignment; phytosanitary certificates around £25 alongside inspection fees of at least £127.60; organic Certificates of Inspection averaging £35; identity‑check fees on meat and dairy averaging £31 per load; and sampling charges that can add approximately £1,200 to a cheese load, £1,400 to a salmon shipment, £440 to a load of apples and £1,200 to beef.
Other costs are expected to reduce rather than disappear. For beef and salmon, queuing times for checks can add up to £149 per load, while additional driver charges paid to hauliers for border‑related friction typically add about £200 per shipment. Ministers contend that streamlined controls would cut these overheads materially.
Officials also highlight potential consumer benefits, arguing that faster clearance should mean fresher imports reaching supermarket shelves more quickly and greater resilience in supply chains. Defra says this should support food security and increase product choice, with possible downward pressure on food‑price inflation.
Initial industry reaction has been broadly positive. M&S Food said that implementation in mid‑2027 would remove unnecessary bureaucracy across Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland while easing export pressures on farmers. Arla Foods welcomed momentum on friction reduction and the promise of co‑designing practical details with businesses. Ramsden International said an SPS deal could reopen significant EU demand for British food and drink brands.
Scope, according to government material, spans food safety, animal health, plant health and animal welfare standards applied to products traded with the EU. Around 500,000 businesses may be affected, including those operating solely within Great Britain. Detailed, sector‑specific guidance is scheduled once negotiations conclude, expected later in 2026, with engagement under way since May 2025 through trade associations and business groups.
Policy teams and operators can prepare now by engaging their trade bodies for sector guidance, mapping changes with suppliers, registering for Defra email alerts to track timelines, and submitting evidence to the Call for Information on likely costs, lead‑times and support needs. Government advice is that current trading requirements remain in force until the new regime starts.