Priorities for a UK-EU SPS agreement - Call for Evidence
1 Aug 2025
On 19 May 2025, leaders from the UK and EU met in London for the first formal bilateral meeting since the UK’s departure. In that meeting, both parties agreed to work towards a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.
The proposed SPS agreement aims to reduce barriers to the trade of food and agricultural products between the UK and the EU. It intends to simplify trade by removing the need for export health certificates, routine border checks, and other regulatory requirements. It would also allow the UK to export certain British products that are currently restricted by the EU, such as fresh sausages, specific types of shellfish, and seed potatoes.
The UK-EU Common Understanding document sets out areas of initial agreement between the European Commission and the UK Government ahead of any formal treaty and explains that the SPS Agreement would involve dynamic alignment of UK rules with EU standards. In some cases, EU rules would need to be applied immediately to maintain safety standards. A small number of exceptions to dynamic alignment may be considered, provided they:
1. Do not lower standards;
2. Do not restrict access to the EU market; and
3. Ensure that only EU-compliant goods are exported to the EU.
Parliament are inviting views on the proposed SPS Agreement, including how it should be negotiated, implemented, and integrated into the UK’s wider food, farming, and environmental goals.
The questions raised can be found here: https://committees.parliament....
The FPC will be formulating a response on behalf of members and this topic will be raised at the next FPC Technical Meeting on 19th August ahead of the submission date of 5th September 2025.