UK and EU Agree Draft Deal to Cut Food Border Checks
The United Kingdom and European Union reached a draft agreement to remove post-Brexit food and agriculture border checks in exchange for UK alignment with EU standards.
The Government of the United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed on a draft sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement designed to eliminate post-Brexit red tape and border checks on food and agriculture exports. The deal removes costly requirements, such as £200 Export Health Certificates and £25 Phytosanitary certificates, and allows the resumption of exports for domestic shellfish, seed potatoes, fresh burgers, and sausages.
In exchange for these concessions, the UK will commit to dynamic alignment, meaning it will observe and adapt to EU trade standards for food, animals, and plants. The UK government estimates the agreement will generate £5.1bn in annual economic benefits and significantly reduce the impact of the Irish Sea border in Northern Ireland.
This agreement is a central component of a broader Brexit reset led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. While Burnham has expressed a desire for the UK to eventually rejoin the EU, he has stated he will not run ahead of public opinion. Other draft deals currently under consideration include defense cooperation, a Youth Experience Scheme, and emissions trading. EU ambassadors are scheduled to discuss the draft texts at a Coreper meeting on Wednesday.
