UK and EU to Align Food Standards by 2027 to Ease Trade
The UK and EU plan to align food standards by mid-2027, aiming to reduce trade barriers and streamline agri-food exports.
The United Kingdom and the European Union have announced plans to align their food standards by mid-2027, aiming to reduce trade barriers and streamline agri-food exports. This initiative is part of broader efforts to reset the UK's relationship with its largest trading partner.
Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds stated, "We are resetting our relationship with the EU, our closest and largest trading partner, to make trade easier and cheaper, and deliver tangible benefits for British businesses."
The alignment will involve the UK adopting EU regulations across various sectors, including animal health, plant health, and food safety. While this move is expected to simplify cross-border processes and reduce administrative burdens, it also presents challenges for UK businesses that have diverged from EU standards since Brexit.
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has outlined ten key priorities to support UK food manufacturers during this transition. These include ensuring the UK has a voice in future EU decision-making, allowing sufficient transition periods for companies to adjust, and retaining control over national legislation in specified areas. Karen Betts, Chief Executive of the FDF, emphasized the importance of getting the details right to protect the competitiveness and resilience of the UK's food and drink sector.
Logistics UK, representing logistics businesses vital to UK trade, has also urged the government to prioritize the SPS agreement to reduce border friction and support trade-led growth. James Mills, Head of Trade Policy at Logistics UK, highlighted that current SPS requirements add cost and complexity to supply chains, and that the new agreement could boost the UK economy by £5.1 billion annually.
The government has initiated a call for information from the agri-food sector to understand the support businesses need to prepare for these changes. Detailed guidance and support are expected to be provided starting in May 2026, with the aim of ensuring a smooth transition and enabling businesses to take full advantage of the new agreement from day one.
As negotiations progress, the UK and EU are working to finalize the specifics of the SPS agreement, with the shared goal of facilitating easier and more predictable trade between the two economies.