32
Accepted in Part
Common SPS area benefits countered by increased costs and delays for Rest of World imports.
Conclusion
A common UK-EU SPS area is expected to reduce administrative burdens, costs, and resource pressures at the Short Straits. However, adopting EU-style “third country” controls on Rest of World imports risks increasing checks, costs, and delays, particularly in sectors reliant on non EU suppliers, such as fruit. (Conclusion, Paragraph 84)
Government Response Summary
The government intends to implement the new GB-EU SPS Agreement from mid-2027, and is working closely with port operators and port health authorities to understand the impact of the changes on them, but does not intend to publish a specific impact assessment of this cumulative change.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The government partially accepts this recommendation. The announcement on 9 March that the government intends to implement the new GB-EU SPS Agreement from mid-2027 aims to give industry sufficient time to prepare for the proposed changes. Defra is already working closely with port operators and port health authorities to understand the impact of the changes on them, including Rest of World focussed operations for whom checks might increase. We do not intend to publish a specific impact assessment of this cumulative change: we are focused on delivering the new arrangements and working with business.
Source
Inquiry
Animal and plant health
Report
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an SPS agreement work
05 Feb 2026
HC 1661
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.3 yrs
Report published
05 Feb 2026