Government announcement on the UK-EU SPS Agreement  - Pesticide Update

The UK government has agreed with the EU to establish a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) area, by way of an SPS Agreement – and pesticides are expected to be in scope. Defra believe this will make agrifood trade with our biggest market easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers.

Defra expects the agreement to come into effect from mid-2027. Exact timings of when arrangements will change are subject to the outcome of ongoing negotiations, and the government is considering targeted transitional arrangements for areas where implementing the changes will be most challenging. They will publish updates as negotiations progress. You can stay informed as negotiations progress by signing up to regular updates here and checking the FPC website regularly. FPC Technical Meetings and Briefings will also be held to

The government recognises that the industry needs stability and forward planning, and are keen to help businesses prepare for the changes. While detailed changes will be communicated in good time, it is important for you to know how future alignment could affect you.

For pesticide users, this means that there may be changes over time to the pesticides you can buy, the ways that you can use them and the maximum residue levels (MRLs) permitted in food. This will be the case even if you don’t trade with the EU.

For food and drink retailers and processors, this means there may be changes to the maximum residue levels (MRLs) permitted in food and drink. This will be the case even if you don’t trade with the EU.

For manufacturers and distributors, this means there may be changes to the active substances approved for use and the plant protection products that can be marketed and sold in GB, maximum residue levels (MRLs) permitted in food, and the way that you work with our regulatory system.

In all cases, nothing changes now. The existing GB regime is still in place and continues to operate and the detail of the agreement is still under negotiation.

Call for Information

Defra has also launched a Call for Information to gather business-level insight on what support and guidance organisations need to prepare for the changes affecting SPS goods.

The Call for Information will help identify what information businesses require, the timing of that information, and any areas where further support would be useful. Findings will be used to inform the development of practical guidance for businesses of all sizes.

Please input into the six- week Call for Information.

What can businesses do now

• Check the gov.uk page for SPS-wide updates

• Sign up for Defra email alerts, follow Defra on Linkedin and join our mailing list  - to receive the latest information on negotiations, implementation timelines, and details of guidance and support available.

• Respond to the Call for Information – and share your views on what support your business needs to prepare.