5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an SPS agreement work
Select Committee
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 1661
5 February 2026
Government Response (AI assessment · 43 of 43 classified)
Accepted
14
Acknowledged
14
Deferred
1
Rejected
4
Recommendations
7 results
2
Accepted
Establish and publish the scope of SPS negotiations for effective consultation
Recommendation
The Government and EU should establish the scope of the SPS negotiations as a priority and publish this information on an interim basis, prior to the conclusion of negotiations, to enable effective consultation and scrutiny. (Recommendation, Paragraph 16)
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Government Response Summary
The government published a list of EU legislation currently in scope of the agreement on March 9, 2026, and will update it after negotiations.
19
Accepted
Ensure devolved administrations hold formal consultative positions in SPS negotiations, outlining participation mechanisms
Recommendation
The Government should ensure that the devolved administrations have a formal consultative position in the negotiations, and outline, in response to this report, the meetings and other mechanisms for this. The Government should also consider the UK-EU SPS agreement as …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that it will continue working closely with devolved governments through forums like the EU Engagement Group, Animal Disease Policy Group (ADPG), the UK National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO), and the Inter-Ministerial Group on EFRA to include them in SPS negotiations.
24
Accepted
Ensure Great Britain maintains robust risk-based controls against serious plant and animal diseases
Recommendation
The Government must ensure that Great Britain is able to maintain risk- based controls to protect against serious plant and animal disease threats. This includes the continuation of robust import controls on plants that can host the bacterial disease caused …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and states that an SPS agreement will mean the UK is able to work with the EU on threats, the UK will play a key role, and they will have access to EU databases.
30
Accepted
Mandate EU transport operators inform travellers of UK personal import rules by January 2027 deadline.
Recommendation
Regardless of SPS negotiation timings, the Government must not delay the implementation of the requirement for EU transport operators to draw travellers’ attention to UK rules on personal imports of products of animal origin beyond 31 January 2027. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and acknowledges the importance of travelers understanding the rules that apply to them, noting that legislation requires transport operators to draw attention to information from the competent authority.
31
Accepted
Publish revised methodology and survey plan for measuring public awareness of personal import rules.
Recommendation
Given the reliance on public awareness for compliance with rules for personal imports from the EU, the Government should ensure its measure of this is as reliable as possible. In response to this report the Government should provide us with …
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Government Response Summary
The government has contracted a research agency to conduct a twice-yearly survey in England to assess public awareness of personal import rules, with the first results expected by May 2026.
35
Accepted
Publish compensation position for unused border infrastructure and prevent future stranded investments.
Recommendation
The Government should set out how it will learn lessons from the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), including the handling of costs for unused or under used border infrastructure. It should publish its position on compensation for …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and is engaging with port health authorities and port operators regarding impacts of SPS agreement implementation. They will use this engagement to inform an approach, abide by any obligations arising from the New Burdens doctrine, and have commissioned an evaluation of the BTOM.
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 …
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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.
Conclusions (7) Observations and findings — click to expand
8
Conclusion
Accepted
The EU’s forthcoming new genomic technology (NGT) framework could take several years to be finalised, and waiting for alignment between the EU and UK on precision breeding would undermine England’s first-mover advantage and stall the development and release of PBOs. (Conclusion, Paragraph 33)
Government Response Summary
The government states that secondary legislation needed to implement the Genetic Technology Act 2023 commenced on 13 November 2025. The EU has accepted there will need to be areas where the UK will retain its own rules, as set out in the May 2025 Common Understanding.
18
Conclusion
Accepted
SPS negotiations have significant implications for the devolved administrations. While the UK Government leads negotiations, it must take account of the specific needs and priorities of each nation, including regional conditions. Internal market challenges, such as those arising from England’s precision breeding legislation, could be mitigated by a UK–EU SPS …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, outlining various forums and groups used to engage with devolved governments on SPS agreement negotiations and implementation.
22
Conclusion
Accepted
The UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) provides a risk-based framework for managing biosecurity threats at the UK border. Our scrutiny and Government action has contributed to tangible improvements in responsiveness, as demonstrated by the swift and effective action taken following the detection of African Swine Fever in Spain, contrasting …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and states that an SPS agreement will mean the UK is able to work with the EU on threats, the UK will play a key role, and they will have access to EU databases.
23
Conclusion
Accepted
Maintaining Great Britain’s biosecurity is vital. Britain’s geography provides natural protection from many plant and animal health threats. Any future SPS agreement will require adjustments to existing border controls, but it remains essential that GB retains the ability to apply robust, evidence- based measures to prevent the introduction of diseases …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and states that an SPS agreement will mean the UK is able to work with the EU on threats, the UK will play a key role, and they will have access to EU databases.
29
Conclusion
Accepted
Relying on the goodwill of EU travel operators to communicate personal import rules is not an acceptable approach. Defra has acknowledged that its current survey methods make it difficult to assess public awareness of personal import restrictions, and it has subsequently revised down its own estimates after we raised concerns …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the importance of travellers understanding the rules and notes that GB legislation requires international passenger transport operators to inform customers of personal import restrictions.
34
Conclusion
Accepted
Local authorities and businesses have invested heavily, at the Government’s instruction, in border infrastructure that may become redundant under a new SPS regime. A lack of clarity from HM Treasury regarding compensation has had a negative impact on relationships between local authorities and Government. (Conclusion, Paragraph 87)
Government Response Summary
The government is engaging with port health authorities and port operators regarding impacts of SPS agreement implementation and will abide by any obligations arising from the New Burdens doctrine, and commissioned a proportionate, mixed methods evaluation of the BTOM.
42
Conclusion
Accepted
While the Government has been vocal in advocating for an SPS deal and highlighting its benefits for farmers, traders, and the wider UK economy, the realities and implications of dynamic alignment have not been well explained to the public. There is a need for fuller debate on both the benefits …
Government Response Summary
The government published information on the SPS agreement asking businesses to start preparing for changes, and committed to continue to work closely with industry on negotiations and provide clear and timely information and has launched a Call for Information.