The TCA, which has now been ratified by the EU, allows the UK and the EU to cooperate on avoiding unnecessary SPS barriers to trade in agri-food goods. Over time, this cooperation will help to reduce the burden on businesses from border controls and certification requirements. Taken alongside other elements of the FTA such as zero tariff, zero quota, this represents a good outcome for the UK’s agri-food industry and does not constrain our ability to legislate in these areas. The SPS chapter of the TCA includes a mechanism that allows the UK and the EU to take informed decisions to reduce their respective SPS controls, with a commitment to avoid unnecessary trade barriers. It is in both Parties’ interests to use this framework to reduce the rate of SPS checks required. The UK proposed a mechanism to agree equivalence in the TCA negotiations, the EU made clear that they would not countenance this offer. We are open to discussions with the EU on additional steps we can take to further reduce trade friction, but these cannot be on the basis of future alignment with EU rules as this would compromise UK sovereignty over our own laws.