UK-EU deal will remove certain border checks on food

The United Kingdom has secured a trade deal with the European Union that will impact the food sector.

The UK government said a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement will make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing the red tape for businesses that led to lorry queues at the border.

The creation of an UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Zone will mean removal of Export Health Certificates, saving businesses up to £200 per consignment each time goods are sent.

Routine border checks on some food products would be removed. Goods such as dairy, fish, eggs and red meat are currently subject to 100 percent paperwork checks and up to 30 percent physical controls. Checks on certain imports from the EU for products such as milk, dairy, eggs, red meat, plants for planting, and potatoes, will also be stopped.

The EU is the UK’s largest trading partner. After the 21 percent drop in exports and 7 percent decline in imports from 2018 to 2024, the UK will be able to sell various products, such as burgers and fresh sausages and certain shellfish from domestic waters, to the EU again.

The scope covers sanitary, phytosanitary, food safety, and general consumer protection rules related to the production, distribution and consumption of food products, the regulation of live animals, and pesticides, and the rules on organics.

Moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland should become easier, reducing the need for paperwork and checks because of the removal of SPS and other requirements.

The UK will also be able to access relevant European Union agencies, systems, and databases in the areas covered by the agreement — it is not yet clear if this includes the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).

Positive reaction but call for details
Micheál Martin, Irish Prime Minister, said: “I welcome the commitment to negotiating an SPS Agreement that will see ongoing alignment between the EU and UK on food standards. This will be of great benefit to Ireland’s food and drink exporters, for which the UK remains a very important market.”

The National Farmers Union (NFU) welcomed the deal but added the details were not yet clear.

“With the scope to remove export health certificates and cumbersome controls at the border, this deal will deliver many benefits for agri-food exports to the EU. However, there remain important questions about what is within the scope of this agreement and, where current rules and regulations do differ, if there will be any exclusions,” Tom Bradshaw, NFU president, said.  

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, said: “The new agreement with the EU to remove trade barriers is positive news for hospitality businesses and will help to further increase access to high-quality, affordable food and drink for business and consumers alike.”

Lizzie Wilson, National Pig Association chief executive, welcomed the potential removal of barriers that restricted exports but warned that the deal must not result in an open door for meat imports at a time when foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF) are circulating in Europe.

“Ever since the UK’s departure from the EU, the new Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), introduced to control and monitor commercial imports, has been problematic and has added a layer of cost and bureaucracy for legitimate traders,” she said. 

“Our key message is this deal must not be seen as a reason by government to take their eye off the threat posed by the illegal import of products of animal origin. Our greatest fear is that this agreement with the EU will just exacerbate an already dire situation and will now lead to less checks and a potentially weakened biosecurity position.”

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations said it was very disappointed with the plans and its impact on fishermen and their communities.

The British Ports Association welcomed the deal but called for compensation for ports that will now likely forfeit millions in costs in border infrastructure they had to build under the old agreement.   

The International Meat Trade Association (IMTA) said the move will reduce barriers for trade in meat between the two parties.

“However, we must note we have concerns that dynamic alignment of UK to EU legislation means loss of the UK’s regulatory independence, especially with regard to our rest of world imports which have benefitted from more proportionate import controls under the Border Target Operating Model.”

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/05/uk-eu-deal-will-remove-certain-border-checks-on-food/