UK Fresh Produce Trade With Gibraltar Faces Abrupt SPS Shake-Up

UK exporters supplying Gibraltar could face significant new costs, delays and disruption from Wednesday, 15 July, as sweeping sanitary and phytosanitary controls are introduced under the UK–EU Gibraltar Treaty.

In a high-priority notification circulated to industry representatives late on Friday, Defra warned that plant health-regulated goods may no longer be able to travel directly from the UK to Gibraltar.

Instead, products subject to SPS controls are expected to enter through a Border Control Post in an EU member state—potentially requiring consignments to be routed through Spain before reaching Gibraltar.

The treaty is scheduled to enter provisional application on 15 July 2026, a date confirmed by both the EU Council and the Government of Gibraltar.

However, Defra acknowledged that it had received very little notice of the practical implementation arrangements.

Officials said that although they had been consulted on individual elements of the negotiations and understood that SPS-controlled goods might need to enter through an EU Border Control Post, they had not been kept informed about the application date, communications with industry or the level of business preparedness.

FPC is extremely concerned by the lack of proactive communication from Government. 

Defra said it had only received confirmation of the imminent changes earlier on Friday—leaving affected companies with just days to understand the requirements and reorganise established supply routes.

The consequences could be considerable for fresh produce, plants, flowers and other perishable goods.

Routing consignments through an EU Border Control Post could introduce additional documentary requirements, inspections, handling charges and journey time. Businesses may also need to secure phytosanitary certificates, amend transport arrangements and work with different customs or logistics providers.

For highly perishable products, even relatively short delays can reduce shelf life, compromise product quality and increase waste. Smaller-volume exporters could find that the additional administrative and logistics costs make some consignments commercially unviable.

The changes could therefore weaken the competitiveness of UK suppliers while encouraging Gibraltar-based businesses to source more products from within the EU, where supply routes may be simpler and less expensive.

The disruption also risks affecting retailers, wholesalers and foodservice operators in Gibraltar that have longstanding relationships with British suppliers.

Defra said Animal and Plant Health Agency officials were aware of the implications and would assist businesses needing phytosanitary certification. It urged any traders that believe they may be affected to contact APHA through the usual channels as soon as possible.

The Government of Gibraltar has published implementing legislation and guidance for traders, including information covering transit procedures. Further information from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the treaty negotiating teams is expected.

However, with implementation now only days away, critical questions remain over how consignments will move through Spain, where inspections will take place, which products will be affected and whether any transitional flexibility will be provided.

Although the treaty is intended to establish a more stable long-term relationship between Gibraltar and the EU, the immediate introduction of new SPS arrangements—without clear and timely communication to the affected industries—could leave businesses scrambling to protect established trade from Wednesday.

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