EU protects food standards in agreement with U.S.

European sanitary and phytosanitary rules have been described as a “clear red line” as part of trade negotiations with the United States.

An EU-US joint statement said the two parties would “streamline requirements for sanitary certificates.”

The European Commission said there is no question of negotiating on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules or standards, calling this area a “clear red line”.

However, the EU and United States intend to look at ways to resolve long-standing SPS concerns.

The statement builds on an agreement reached by President Ursula von der Leyen and President Donald Trump in late July.

Hormones and chlorine
The EU has a ban on imports of meat from cattle given growth promoting hormones. Some beef producers in the United States treat cattle with hormone growth promoters, so this meat cannot be sold in Europe.

Chlorine-based washes are applied in the U.S. to reduce foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella on chicken carcasses. Europe prohibits the import of poultry treated with chlorine.

The European Union intends to provide preferential market access for a range of U.S. seafood and agricultural goods, including tree nuts, dairy products, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, processed foods, planting seeds, soybean oil, and pork and bison meat.

Copa-Cogeca said the agreement delivers nothing for the EU agriculture sector.

The group, which represents farmers and agri-cooperatives in Europe, said the deal grants improved market access for U.S. agri-food products, while EU producers are left facing higher tariffs.

“This one-sided outcome is not only unjustified — it is deeply damaging to a sector already under pressure from rising costs, regulatory constraints, and increasing global competition. Any flexibility granted on SPS rules or sanitary certification for the U.S. must not come at the expense of EU production standards or farmers.”

UK-EU trade development
In other trade news, the UK government is suspending the introduction of extra border checks on live animal imports from the EU, and on certain animal and plant goods from Ireland.

The move is part of a deal that will establish a UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary zone. Details of the agreement are yet to be finalized, so traders must comply with the UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).

Some live animals imported from the EU will continue to be inspected at their place of destination.

Tom Haynes, National Pig Association public affairs manager, said: “While we would always welcome steps to ease the trade burdens, we continue to stress that this must not be done in a way that potentially leaves UK livestock more exposed to imported disease by reducing inspections where they are needed.

“More broadly, we also question how much resource has now been wasted in preparing for new controls that will never happen, all at a time when Border Force and Port Health Authorities are in desperate need of resource to support physical inspections which routinely identify and confiscate large quantities of illegal meat entering the country.”

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/08/eu-protects-food-standards-in-agreement-with-u-s/