19th August 2025
The NFU has welcomed the news that some red tape will be cut when it comes to trading with the EU, but added that the benefits will be limited.
Brexit
Ahead of the upcoming SPS deal with the EU, the government has suspended the introduction of certain border checks.
Extra checks on live animal imports from the EU, and on specific animal and plant goods from Ireland will not go ahead.
Defra said the move is to ease trade ahead of its new SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) deal with the EU.
The suspension will be reviewed on a rolling basisto ensure the biosecurity of the UK is effectively maintained.
It was similarly announced in June that border checks on EU fruit and veg imports would be scrapped to ease trade ahead of the SPS deal.
The SPS
The SPS is intended to cut costs and red tape for businesses that export and import from the EU, reduce delays at the border and make food trade with the EU easier.
Under the agreement, border checks on live animal imports from the EU as well as on certain plant and animal goods arriving from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (termed non-qualifying goods) will not be required.
Some live animals imported from the EU will continue to be inspected at their place of destination based on a series of risk factors.
Non-qualifying goods arriving from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland can continue to enter the UK without physical inspection, and will continue to require pre-notification and certification in some instance.
Risk-based surveillance will continue to manage the biosecurity threats of these products, Defra said.
While the details of the agreement are negotiated, traders must continue to comply with the terms of the UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) that protect the essential biosecurity of the country, including existing checks.
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Positive but limited
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said it’s positive that the government is looking to cut red tape, but the benefits of the suspension will be limited to livestock importers and growers who trade via Ireland.
“There is nothing about restarting UK live animal exports for breeding purposes, a small but high value trade which was halted after Brexit due to a lack of inspection points in the EU,” he commented.
“Meanwhile, horticulture businesses importing plants for planting from mainland EU will continue to be subject to disproportionate border checks at UK Border Control Posts until negotiations conclude, which are costly, cause long delays and pose an infection risk.
“The government must address this imbalance if it truly wants to support British farm businesses.”
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