EU Approves Negotiations for UK Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement
Thursday, 18 September 2025 marks an important step in the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. The European Union has given the green light through a draft mandate to negotiate a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the United Kingdom. This follows the summit in London on 19th May.
Negotiations can now begin, with the support of all twenty-seven European Union Member States. The aim is to remove all SPS-related phytosanitary and export health certificates, recognising the costs and impacts of checks and documentation for trade in both directions.
As expected, dynamic alignment of SPS standards between the United Kingdom and the European Union will take place. This would also remove SPS checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom and European Union greenhouse gas emissions trading systems will also be linked.
Few exemptions are envisaged. However, exemptions may be permitted if they do not result in lower standards in the United Kingdom than in the European Union, prevent United Kingdom market access, or allow United Kingdom products into the European Union market if not produced to European Union rules.
With negotiations set to begin, the implementation period will be equally important. This will require adjustments for some United Kingdom agricultural sectors and the supply chain.
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