£5bn boost projected
British food producers have welcomed a new UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, set to slash red tape and cut costs on exports to the UK’s biggest market.
Ministers say the deal, part of the government’s Plan for Change, could add £5.1bn a year to the economy while easing pressure on household food bills.
The agreement will remove routine border checks and much of the paperwork currently required for trade in products such as meat, dairy, eggs and fish. Export health certificates, which can cost up to £200 per consignment, will be scrapped – saving thousands of pounds on large lorry loads.
Bans to be lifted
As part of the reforms, the EU will also reopen its market to a range of UK goods currently barred, including fresh sausages, burgers, seed potatoes and some shellfish. Ministers say this will allow firms to expand production and create jobs.
Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner toured Dunbia’s meat processing site in Bedfordshire and Co-op’s distribution hub in Biggleswade to highlight the benefits. He said: “This deal will make trading with the EU both easier and cheaper, adding over £5bn to the economy and spurring growth that the whole country will benefit from.”
Industry reaction
Business leaders welcomed the move. Shirine Khoury-Haq, chief executive of the Co-op, said reducing friction in the food supply chain was “good news for our industry, for our business, and therefore for our members, customers, and the communities we serve.”
Niall Browne, CEO of Dunbia, said the agreement would mean “potential cost savings for our business and a smoother delivery to our EU customers,” which he described as vital for the UK food industry.
Safeguarding standards
The government stressed that protecting biosecurity remains a priority. Risk-based checks will continue to guard against threats from imported goods until the agreement is fully in place.
Officials said the changes would help firms of all sizes, improve consumer choice and underpin long-term food security, while also reinforcing Britain’s trading relationship with the EU.
