EU Reset: Hope For Breakthrough On Border Checks For Food And Plant Products

Hopes are high that today's long-anticipated EU-UK summit in London will deliver a breakthrough on easing post-Brexit trade barriers, as both sides edge closer to a landmark agreement that could significantly reduce border checks on food, animal and plant products.

Negotiations have gone down to the wire, with UK and EU officials locked in late-night talks over the weekend. At the heart of the discussions is a long-awaited sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, designed to slash the red tape, costs and delays that have plagued the agri-food trade since Brexit.

European and British farmers will closely analyse any announcement of progress towards slashing border checks on agrifood products, facilitated by the UK accepting so-called dynamic alignment with EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules – meaning that as EU rules change, the UK updates its own rules accordingly. 

Sources close to the talks suggest a framework deal could be announced within hours, aimed at simplifying the movement of goods while safeguarding public health standards. If confirmed, the move would mark a key pillar in a broader strategic “reset” in EU-UK relations – a reset both sides have publicly supported.

Since the end of the transition period, UK exporters have faced costly and time-consuming checks on meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables and plants. These measures have not only added millions in operating costs, but also caused regular disruption in perishable supply chains.

A new SPS agreement is expected to bring widespread benefits, including lower costs for consumers, fewer rejected consignments, and improved speed and reliability across UK-EU trade flows.

The EU has indicated that any deal on food and plant goods must be pegged to dynamic alignment with its evolving food safety rules, and has linked its approval to the length of fishing access rights in UK waters. While the UK has proposed a four-year extension, Brussels is pushing for a longer-term arrangement – a sticking point still under negotiation.

Despite these challenges, industry observers believe the political will exists on both sides to secure a deal. The proposed veterinary accord is seen as a pragmatic step towards rebuilding trust and reducing the economic friction that has hampered trade since the UK’s departure from the EU.

As part of the broader reset, the UK government is expected to frame the agreement as a win for consumers and businesses alike – providing relief from the estimated £200 million in annual border costs currently being passed through to food prices.

Officials have remained tight-lipped on final details, but signs point to a carefully choreographed announcement on Monday, with both London and Brussels eager to present a united front.

After years of strained relations and disrupted trade, the opportunity for meaningful progress is within reach - and it's one that stands to benefit households, growers and exporters on both sides of the Channel.