The UK Government has today (9 March) announced an update on the proposed deal with the EU on agri-food trade, which is set to impact a wide range of food and farming standards including food safety, animal health and plant health. The update provides, for the first time, further detail on the rules set to be in scope of the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, which is expected to come into force by mid-2027.

The update provides a full list of EU legislation set to fall within the scope of the deal, including aims to align with the EU on the majority of them. It is also clear on the Government’s priorities for the agreement, which focus on reducing barriers to EU trade for farmers and other companies along the agri-food supply chain which have seen costs rise and red tape increase since the UK’s exit from the EU.

The Government’s continued commitment to alignment with higher EU pesticides standards is a particularly welcome development, especially given increased pressure from industry for this to be weakened through delays and staggered implementation – most notably through the recent CropLife UK report, which IEEP UK covered in a recent news piece.

However, the update does raise questions on how alignment will affect other environmental issues such as the proposed ban on horticultural peat – given these rules look likely to fall under the scope of the proposed agreement. It also remains to be seen what carve out the UK will secure to retain distinct rules for areas such as novel technology and animal welfare.

Ben Reynolds, Executive Director of IEEP UK, commented:

“The Government have been clear around its priorities for a deal with the EU that would ease trade barriers for agri-food products, and benefit the majority of UK farmers and consumers. Considering recent pressure to delay alignment with higher EU pesticides standards, it is reassuring to see Government maintain this commitment in today’s announcement which will benefit the environment and consumers health.

“This does raise questions though on how alignment will affect other environmental issues such as the Government’s proposed horticultural peat ban. It also remains to be seen what carve out the UK will secure to retain distinct rules for areas such as novel technology and animal welfare.”

For more information on the state of the UK-EU Reset, click here to watch our recent IEEP UK webinar – ‘Is the UK-EU Reset on track for the environment?‘ – featuring Alistair Carmichael MP, Chair of the EFRA Committee, Professor Emily Lydgate, PAN UK’s Josie Cohen, IEEP UK Honorary Fellow David Baldock, and Aldersgate Group’s Beth Barker.

Photo by Michael Austin on Unsplash