UK and EU Finalize Deal to Ease Food Export Health Checks

SPS agreement aims to reduce red tape

The proposed Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement seeks to lower business costs and reduce red tape. It aims to eliminate export health certificates, plant health certificates, certificates of inspection for organic products, and routine border checks on agri-food products.

The agreement encompasses 76 EU regulations and directives covering areas such as food, feed, animal welfare, transport, slaughter, health, plants, and pesticides.

Leaders to meet on 20 November to discuss trade

UK and EU leaders are scheduled to meet on 20 November 2026 to discuss the agri-food agreement. This summit was originally planned for July but was postponed following the change in UK Prime Minister this summer.

Andy Burnham replaced Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, leading to the delay in the trade discussions.

Prime Minister Burnham addresses Brexit trade impact

Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that a threadbare Brexit deal has damaged the British economy. He said he wants to take practical steps at the summit that pay off for the public by cutting costs for farmers, food producers, and families.

He clarified he would not act on rejoining the EU during the current parliament or get ahead of the public.

Cabinet members Angela Raynor and Ed Miliband have supported Burnham’s comments, while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is reportedly unimpressed due to the political sensitivities of her immigration brief.

Chancellor Healey announces food tariff cuts

Chancellor John Healey announced on 27 October 2026 that the upcoming Autumn Budget will remove import tariffs on more than 100 common food items. These products include garlic, citrus jams, marmalade, plant-based milks, and boiled sweets. The government also intends to remove import taxes on fertilisers and kerosene to address cost-of-living pressures.

This announcement follows a decision on 27 October 2026 to extend import tariff suspensions on over 250 other items.

Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith criticised the move, describing the import cuts as insufficient. He called the measures "an insult to families hammered by Labour's tax rises".

Industry bodies have also expressed concerns regarding the economic impact of the policy.

Separately, the European Union’s 2025 retaliatory tariff measures against goods from the United States remain suspended as of October 2026. These measures could be reactivated in the future.

Industry challenges and regulatory divergence

Exporters currently face significant documentation burdens, with shipping food to Northern Ireland requiring over 200 documents compared to a single document previously, according to Alex Freudmann, managing director of food at M&S.

Data from the Starmer government in December 2024 indicated that post-Brexit exports fell 21% and imports fell 7% between 2021 and 2024.

Regulatory divergence remains a challenge, as the Food Standards Agency noted in September 2026 that CBD products are not authorised in the EU. The Food Standards Agency is gathering evidence to recommend early alignment for British businesses to access EU market authorisations.

A July 2026 UK government survey indicated uncertainty concerning the scope and coverage of the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement. Research has warned of potential issues if transition arrangements do not permit the sale of existing labelled stock.

Thomas observed that current negotiations feel like déjà vu compared to the UK's withdrawal negotiations from ten years ago. The United Kingdom officially left the European Union on 31 January 2020, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement entered into force on 1 May 2021.

The European Union maintains exclusive authority over the customs union, competition rules, monetary policy, marine biological resources, and common commercial policy. The European Union and its member states share responsibility for legislative harmonisation regarding the free movement of capital, goods, and services, as well as energy, transport, fisheries, and agriculture. In civil protection, tourism, and health, the European Union is restricted to legislating only in support of member state initiatives.

The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism entered its definitive phase in 2026, applying to iron, steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen, and electricity.

In 2025, trade in goods between the US and EU exceeded $1.04 trillion, with US exports to the EU at $414.4 billion and imports from the EU at $633.2 billion. Goods must meet EU rules for US origin to qualify for this treatment, as merely shipping from a US warehouse does not establish origin.

Airbus and the European Investment Bank described the loan as a standard corporate financing facility used for managing global production systems.

Implementation timeline set for mid-2027

Draft regulations for the agreement may be released in early 2027. The agreement is expected to take effect from mid-2027.