43
Accepted
Set out communication plan for dynamic alignment realities to businesses and the wider public.
Recommendation
The Government should set out in its response to this report how it intends to communicate the realities of dynamic alignment—not only to affected businesses, farmers, producers, and industry stakeholders, but also to the wider public—explaining the benefits and challenges and how this approach interacts with the UK’s democratic processes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 106) 40
Government Response Summary
The government published information on the SPS agreement asking businesses to prepare, and will publish further information, starting from May this year, along with guidance, and launched a Call for Information to hear directly from businesses about what they need.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government accepts this recommendation. On 9 March, Defra published further information on the SPS agreement asking businesses in the agri-food sector to start preparing for changes now. This announcement set out the benefits of the agreement, which we expect to take effect in mid-2027, and the sectors that will be affected. This included a list of EU legislation – and any related EU rules made under the listed EU regulation – it views as being in scope of the agreement. There will be some negotiated exceptions for the UK, and we will have decision-shaping rights when new EU policies are made. Parliament will rightly have a say on those new rules, and any disputes will go to international arbitration, not the European Court of Justice - just as was agreed in the Withdrawal Agreement. The government fully recognises that clarity over forthcoming legislative requirements is essential for business. The government is committed to continuing to work closely with industry on negotiations and preparing for implementation, noting that the detail and timing remain subject to ongoing negotiations with the EU. We’ve been listening to businesses since last May and understand the concerns raised about how the new agreement could affect them. We know that some businesses require longer to adjust to the new arrangements, and we will work with them to ensure a smooth transition. It is a priority for this government to deliver clear and timely information, and we will publish what we can as negotiations proceed. We have also committed to providing business with further information starting from May this year. Defra has also launched a Call for Information to hear directly from businesses about what they need. This will shape the practical guidance and support we provide, so businesses of all sizes are ready to benefit from day one. We will prepare guidance on the changes that businesses will need to make and will make that available as soon as negotiations are sufficiently progressed. We will be working closely with business representative organisations on this, and using the feedback gathered in the Call for Information and other routes to ensure our support and guidance is as practical and useful as possible.
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