UK and EU Finalize Draft SPS Agreement to Remove Post-Brexit Food and Animal Product Checks

Draft SPS Agreement Finalized Between UK and EU

The United Kingdom and the European Union have finalized a 200-page draft sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. The agreement is designed to eliminate post-Brexit trade barriers and physical checks currently imposed on food and animal products moving between the two regions.

This landmark draft agreement addresses the ongoing administrative and regulatory friction that has characterized cross-border agricultural and food trade since the UK's exit from the EU.

Targeted Fee Eliminations and Cost Reductions

A central objective of the draft SPS deal is the removal of specific regulatory fees and administrative costs associated with food and animal exports.

Under the proposed terms, the agreement aims to eliminate costs such as:

• £200 export health certificates
• £25 phytosanitary certificates
• Various inspection and port fees charged during customs clearance and border checks.

By removing these certificate and border inspection fees, the deal seeks to streamline export and import documentation procedures for traders across both jurisdictions.

Regulatory Dynamic Alignment and Implementation Schedule

To facilitate the removal of physical checks and certificate requirements, the agreement outlines a framework for regulatory standard harmonization. Under the terms of the deal, the UK is expected to commit to dynamic alignment with existing EU regulations concerning plant, animal, and food trade standards.

The draft agreement is subject to further discussion, including an upcoming summit scheduled for November 20, 2026. Following final approvals and procedural steps, the agreement is projected to officially enter into force in the first quarter of 2028.