The UK and European Union have agreed on a draft deal to scrap post-Brexit sanitary and phytosanitary checks on food and agricultural exports, the most significant step in the so-called "Brexit reset" agreed so far. The BBC understands that the 200-page text has been circulated to EU member states ahead of a summit later this month; the UK government claims it will eventually deliver £5.1 billion in annual economic benefits.
The draft SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) agreement should remove the need for Export Health Certificates, phytosanitary certificates and some port fees, among other checks, on food exports and imports between the UK and the EU. It will also allow UK exports of fresh sausages, burgers, shellfish from domestic waters and seed potatoes to the bloc to resume, and allow passports for UK pets taken into the EU.
Under the agreement, the UK will commit to "dynamic alignment" with EU regulations on plant, animal and food trade standards. The government has already announced a European Partnerships Bill to provide a legal mechanism for applying new EU rules. Similar draft texts on linking the UK's emissions trading scheme with the EU's and on a youth travel and work scheme have also been circulated. The draft agreements will be discussed by EU ambassadors at a Coreper meeting on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he wants to use the upcoming summit to launch a broader conversation on the long-term UK-EU relationship, including the prospect of rejoining the bloc. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) released a new analysis on Monday, describing the current trade relationship as "failing to deliver" and leaving firms "struggling with a thicket of Brexit red tape" nearly six years after the UK's exit from the bloc.
The BCC is calling on the government to explore a range of options for closer economic ties, including a customs union or a "Swiss-style" Single Market model. "Government needs to examine all of the options, remain clear-headed about the trade-offs each involves, and involve business in the decision-making process from the start," said Shevaun Havilland, director general of the BCC. In a survey by the business lobby group, 56% of exporting businesses said they wanted EU customs paperwork and delays removed to help them grow. That rose to 58% of manufacturers.
The BBC understands that the draft agreements will include some references to UK involvement in defence cooperation schemes and access to law enforcement databases. A discount on full foreign student fees for EU students is likely to be pushed to next year alongside a plan to reconnect electricity markets. Some key details on the planned numbers for the Youth Experience Scheme are to be finalised at a political level in the coming days.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The deal resolves a major source of friction for UK food exporters who have faced significant red tape and costs since Brexit.
- It represents the UK's formal acceptance of "dynamic alignment" with EU rules, a key shift in post-Brexit trade policy.
- The process sets the stage for a wider political debate about the UK's long-term relationship with the European Union, including the possibility of rejoining the bloc.
Background
Since leaving the EU's single market in 2020, UK food exporters have faced extensive new bureaucratic requirements including Export Health Certificates and phytosanitary checks. The original post-Brexit trade deal negotiated by Boris Johnson's government prioritised regulatory freedom over frictionless trade. This draft SPS agreement is the most concrete outcome so far of Prime Minister Burnham's push for a "Brexit reset".
Key Perspectives
UK Government: Claims the deal will cut red tape for exporters and eventually deliver £5.1 billion in annual economic benefits, while opening the door to a broader reset of relations.
Pro-Brexit campaigners: Criticised the agreement for re-imposing EU rules, which they argue undermines the regulatory freedom central to the original 2020 trade deal.
British Chambers of Commerce: Describes the current trade environment as failing businesses and urges the government to explore all options for closer alignment, including models such as a customs union or Swiss-style single market membership.
What to Watch
- The Coreper meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday to discuss the draft texts.
- The UK-EU summit later this month to formalise the agreements and launch the long-term conversation on the future relationship.
- The outcome of final negotiations on the Youth Experience Scheme numbers, student fees and electricity market links.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedThe UK and EU have agreed a draft deal to remove post-Brexit checks on food and agricultural exports.BBC News: “The UK and EU have agreed a draft deal on removing post-Brexit checks from food and agriculture exports”
- SupportedThe food deal is the most significant part of the Brexit reset agreed so far.BBC News: “The food deal is the most significant part of the so-called Brexit reset agreed so far”
- SupportedThe BBC understands that a 200-page draft text has been circulated to EU member states ahead of the summit.BBC News: “The BBC understands the 200-page draft text for this so called "SPS" [sanitary and phytosanitary] agreement has been circulated to EU nations in Brussels for consideration at a meeting on Wednesday.”
- SupportedThe UK government claims the deal will eventually deliver £5.1 billion in annual economic benefits.BBC News: “The government claims the UK economy will eventually see £5.1bn worth of annual benefits.”
- SupportedThe draft deal should remove the need for Export Health Certificates, phytosanitary certificates and some port fees, among other checks.BBC News: “The deal should remove the need for £200 Export Health Certificates, £25 Phytosanitary certificates, inspector fees, organic certificates, some port fees, sampling fees and other checks”
- SupportedUK exports of fresh sausages, burgers, shellfish from domestic waters and seed potatoes will be able to resume.BBC News: “UK exports to the EU of fresh sausages, burgers, shellfish from domestic waters and seed potatoes will also be able to resume.”
- SupportedThe agreement will allow passports for UK pets taken into the EU.BBC News: “The agreement will also allow for passports for UK pets taken into the EU.”
- SupportedThe UK will commit to dynamic alignment with EU regulations on plant, animal and food trade standards.BBC News: “Under the agreement the UK will commit to observing and adapting to existing EU regulations on plant, animal and food trade standards. This process is called "dynamic alignment".”
- SupportedDraft texts on emissions trading and a youth travel and work scheme have also been circulated.BBC News: “Similar texts for deals on emissions trading and a youth travel and work scheme have also been circulated”
- SupportedThe draft agreements will be discussed by EU ambassadors at a Coreper meeting on Wednesday.BBC News: “The draft agreements will be discussed at a meeting of EU ambassadors called Coreper on Wednesday”
- SupportedShevaun Havilland said: “Government needs to examine all of the options, remain clear-headed about the trade-offs each involves, and involve business in the decision-making process from the start,”BBC News: “"Government needs to examine all of the options, remain clear-headed about the trade-offs each involves, and involve business in the decision-making process from the start," Shevaun Havilland, director general of the BCC, said.”
- SupportedIn a BCC survey, 56% of exporting businesses wanted EU customs paperwork and delays removed to help them grow; the figure was 58% for manufacturers.BBC News: “More than half (56%) of exporting businesses in a BCC survey said they wanted EU customs paperwork and delays removed so they can grow. That rose to 58% of manufacturers.”