Background and Overview

On 19 May 2025, the UK government and the European Union (EU) agreed to pursue a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. This, together with the Windsor Framework, was designed to make it easier, cheaper, and more predictable for goods to move not just between the UK and the EU, but also within the UK itself, including smoother movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The agreement covers a broad scope of regulatory areas, including:

• Trade, production, and movement of plants, animals, and related products
• Food and feed safety
• Nutrition-related regulations (e.g., supplements, fortified foods, compositional standards)
• Wider agrifood rules (labelling, marketing standards, organics)
• Regulation of pesticides and biocides

This step represents a significant shift toward reducing friction for agri-food businesses and enhancing opportunities for both domestic and international trade.

Benefits

It was set out today (Monday 9 March) how UK exporters and importers are expected to benefit from the new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement as the government negotiates to make trade with the UK’s biggest market and closest neighbour easier, cheaper, and quicker. 

These changes will deliver practical benefits for businesses and consumers:

• Businesses will save money.
• Trade will flow faster
• New markets will be unlocked.

Many small and medium-sized businesses stand to gain from this agreement. For example, the costs of paperwork and certification have hit smaller businesses hardest, with many abandoning EU trade entirely because the complexity and cost of completing the paperwork and formalities were onerous and outweighed the benefits.



The deal is also designed to create new opportunities for those businesses that import food products for processing or wholesale before selling them on.

Businesses will benefit from a simpler, cheaper process for moving most agrifood goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, protecting consumer choice in Northern Ireland and strengthening the UK internal market.   

The scheme is designed to free British food and farming businesses from the mountains of paperwork, unnecessary delays, and spiralling costs of current arrangements; cut red tape; open opportunities for growth for large and small importers and exporters across the country; and help put British produce back on the European market.

More great British produce will be on European tables thanks to this agreement, which will reduce barriers for exporters and create new opportunities for farmers and businesses across all parts of the UK. 

Timeline

The government is working toward a mid-2027 start date for the new agreement and is aiming to finalise negotiations on smoother trade and secure the best deal for UK businesses later this year. The government wants businesses in the agri-food sector to start getting ready now. This includes those that do not currently trade with the EU. 

While negotiations remain ongoing, businesses are being encouraged to take early steps to prepare for the changes ahead. 

Businesses should continue to follow the current trading requirements until any new agreement takes effect. This includes continued compliance with the Windsor Framework until the agreement removes the need for it. 

Benefits

Costs expected to be removed: 

• Export Health Certificates cost up to £200 for agri-food goods 
• Phytosanitary Certificates cost approximately £25 alongside inspection fees of at least £127.60 
• Organic Certificates of Inspection, required for the export of organic lamb and cheese, cost on average £35 
• Identity check fees on meat and dairy exports add £31 per load on average 
• Sampling 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 a beef load 

Costs are expected to be reduced 

• For beef and salmon, queueing times for checks can add costs of up to £149 per load 
• Additional driver charges, paid to hauliers for border-related friction, are typically £200 per shipment

Under the deal, the government has committed UK businesses involved in the production or processing of plants, food, animals, and animal products to align with EU rules. This applies to domestic producers and those trading with the rest of the world, meaning businesses that do not currently export may also need to adapt their practices. 

What businesses can do now?

While negotiations continue, businesses can take practical steps to get ready: 

• Engage with their relevant trade body or industry association: They will be key partners in providing sector-specific guidance, and many are already working with government to help members prepare. 
• Engage with your supply chain: Understand any changes that may affect them. 
• Sign up for Defra email alerts for regular updates: To receive the latest information on negotiations, implementation timelines, and details of guidance and support available. 
• Respond to the Call for Information: And share views on what support their business needs to prepare.   

Detailed guidance will be published as negotiations progress to ensure businesses – from farmers and processors to retailers and hauliers – are ready to benefit from day one. 

Call for information

To help with preparations, the government has today launched a six-week Call for Information to understand how best to support businesses to make the most of this opportunity. Details of this and a link to participate can be found via the link below

The government is keen to hear when and what support might be useful, so that businesses large and small, whether they currently trade with the EU or not, can be ready. The link to the call for information is as follows:

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/eudp-evidence-and-analysis/uk-eu-sps-agreement-call-for-information/consultation/

This Call for Information will run for 6 weeks, opening on 9^th March 2026 and closing on 23^rd April 2026.