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
5 results
13
Accepted in Part
Provide and publish a clear, realistic transition timetable for common SPS area
Recommendation
The Government should provide a clear, realistic transition timetable for moving to a common SPS area, published with key milestones at least 12–24 months in advance. This must not be subject to repeated changes, and implementation plans should be developed …
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Government Response Summary
The government intends for the new SPS Agreement to take effect in mid-2027 and will provide more detailed guidance for businesses starting in May and will work with businesses to ensure a smooth transition.
26
Accepted in Part
Develop strategy by June 2026 to reduce demand for illegally imported animal products
Recommendation
Defra must not wait until SPS negotiations are concluded before developing a strategy to reduce demand for illegally imported animal products. We reiterate the recommendation made in our previous report on this topic that the Government, by June 2026, should …
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Government Response Summary
The government has established a new Illegal Imports Improvement project and will develop a cross-government action plan, but does not accept that a strategy focused solely on demand drivers is the right approach in the short term.
28
Accepted in Part
Provide details of ministerial working group meetings and expand to include frontline agencies
Recommendation
In its response to this report, the Government should provide details on how many times the group has met since September 2025 and share minutes of its discussions. Defra should expand the ministerial working group to include an additional operational …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the Goods Border Small Ministerial Group and its meetings, but declines to share minutes publicly and refers to existing operational working groups for operational activity.
33
Accepted in Part
Evaluate SPS agreement impact on Rest of World supply chains; allow 12 months for changes.
Recommendation
Following an SPS agreement with the EU, the Government should set out an assessment of the agreement on Rest of World (RoW) supply chains. This should include identifying opportunities to redeploy existing infrastructure and staff and maintaining a proportionate risk …
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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.
37
Accepted in Part
Provide plans and cost analysis for repurposing Sevington Border Control Post within three months.
Recommendation
In addition to the cost-benefit analysis of repurposing Bastion Point BCP already committed to us, the Government should also provide its plans, with an associated cost analysis, for Sevington BCP following the establishment of a common SPS area, no later …
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Government Response Summary
The government is preparing a business case for Sevington BCP, focusing on operational, financial, and statutory considerations, but does not intend to publish the full business case due to commercial sensitivity.
Conclusions (5) Observations and findings — click to expand
12
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Frequent border policy changes over recent years have created disruption, uncertainty and financial pressure for port health and local authorities. Stakeholders are clear that another shift in border regimes will only be manageable if timelines are realistic, communicated early, and not subject to repeated revisions or delays. (Conclusion, Paragraph 41) …
Government Response Summary
The government intends for the new SPS Agreement to take effect in mid-2027 and will provide more detailed guidance for businesses starting in May and will work with businesses to ensure a smooth transition.
25
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Both the EU and the UK are exposed to biosecurity risks from illegal meat imports. Although future access to EU data systems and intelligence within a common SPS area could support British border enforcement efforts, there is nothing within an SPS agreement to actively prevent or deter criminal activity linked …
Government Response Summary
Defra has established a new Illegal Imports Improvement project and will develop a cross-government action plan, but does not accept that a strategy focused solely on demand drivers is the right approach.
27
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
We welcome the Minister’s commitment to reestablish the cross-ministerial working group on borders, recognising the importance of coordinated oversight of biosecurity risks and border operations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 74)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the cross-ministerial working group on borders, and states the Illegal Imports Improvement Project brings together a range of workstreams and stakeholders and the Goods Border Small Ministerial Group first met on 9 July 2025.
32
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
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.
36
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
We expect that, together with Bastion Point, Sevington BCP will need to be repurposed following the anticipated reduction in border checks for EU goods once a common SPS area is established. (Conclusion, Paragraph 91)
Government Response Summary
The government will prepare a business case for the future of Sevington BCP following the establishment of a common SPS area, focusing on operational, financial and statutory considerations, but will not publish it due to commercial sensitivity.