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
10 results
1
Acknowledged
Clarify inclusion of on-farm animal welfare and labelling in EU SPS negotiations
Recommendation
The Government must urgently clarify whether on-farm animal welfare and labelling will be included in negotiations with the EU of an SPS agreement so it can properly develop any future legislative changes, prepare industry for reforms and so those changes …
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Government Response Summary
The EU has accepted there will need to be areas where the UK will retain its own rules, subject to ongoing negotiation, and that the UK has been clear about the importance of setting high animal welfare standards.
3
Acknowledged
Prevent UK farmers being undercut by lower welfare imports through specific exemptions
Recommendation
The Government must not allow UK farmers and food producers to be undercut by cheaper imports produced to lower welfare standards, in line with its repeated commitments to not lower food standards and uphold high animal welfare standards in trade …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that it shares the public’s high regard for environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare, and will uphold high animal welfare standards, championing the importance of high standards globally while working with international partners.
4
Acknowledged
Seek specific exemptions from dynamic alignment with EU on animal welfare standards
Recommendation
The UK Government should seek specific exemptions from dynamic alignment with the EU on animal welfare standards. (Recommendation, Paragraph 20)
Government Response Summary
The EU has accepted there will need to be areas where the UK will retain its own rules, subject to ongoing negotiation, and that the UK has been clear about the importance of setting high animal welfare standards.
5
Acknowledged
Prevent UK food producers being undercut by EU imports with lower welfare standards
Recommendation
The Government must prevent UK food producers from being undercut by EU imports produced to lower animal welfare standards within a future common SPS area. In its response to this report, the Government should set out the practical measures it …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it shares the public’s high regard for UK standards, will not lower food standards or animal welfare, and will continue to champion high standards and promote best practice globally, but does not commit to specific measures to protect producers from being undercut.
7
Acknowledged
Ensure new EU regulations for GB agriculture incorporate specific climatic and scientific data
Recommendation
The Government should ensure in negotiations that GB will only adopt new EU regulations on PPPs and mycotoxin limits where GB climate, growing conditions and scientific data have been fully considered in their development. It should seek assurances, as a …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of ensuring the SPS Agreement delivers positive outcomes and safeguards standards, stating that the UK will contribute to decision-shaping and UK scientific evidence can be incorporated into decisions affecting UK agriculture.
9
Acknowledged
Continue implementing Precision Breeding Act and seek exemption in EU SPS negotiations
Recommendation
The Government should continue implementing England’s Precision Breeding Act, actively progress regulatory procedures to bring precision bred plants to market, and seek a targeted exemption for precision breeding in negotiations with the EU on the SPS agreement. (Recommendation, Paragraph 34) …
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Government Response Summary
The government notes secondary legislation for the Precision Breeding Act commenced on 13 November 2025 and claims the EU has accepted the UK will retain its own rules in certain areas, but details will be published after negotiations.
11
Acknowledged
Secure a minimum 24-month implementation period for SPS agreement adjustments
Recommendation
The Government should secure an implementation period of at least 24 months for sectors to make necessary adjustments resulting from the SPS agreement. Once a common SPS area is established all legislative changes adopted under dynamic alignment must include a …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it intends for the agreement to take effect in mid-2027, acknowledging concerns about businesses adjusting to new arrangements and stating they will continue to work with them to ensure a smooth transition.
21
Acknowledged
Actively pursue a Veterinary Medicines Agreement with the EU to facilitate smoother trade
Recommendation
The Government should actively pursue a Veterinary Medicines Agreement with the EU in tandem with the SPS agreement to facilitate smoother trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In its response to this report, the Government should set out its …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that medicines supply remains stable and that it will continue to monitor the situation closely while also being open to working with the EU and other international trading partners on the regulation of veterinary medicines. The government is currently focused on the SPS agreement negotiations.
39
Acknowledged
Allocate increased funding, staffing, and expertise for SPS agreement and relevant food agencies.
Recommendation
The Government should find, allocate and disclose budgets and plans for increasing staffing, expertise, and funding to support its work on the SPS agreement and ensure timely delivery alongside other policy commitments. HM Treasury must increase the FSA’s flat budget …
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Government Response Summary
HMT and the FSA will keep budgets under review in the usual way, with any adjustments confirmed at relevant Estimates.
41
Acknowledged
Publish detailed plans for parliamentary scrutiny of SPS agreement and assimilated EU law.
Recommendation
The Government should publish detailed plans for parliamentary scrutiny of the SPS agreement and any future EU legislation that would be assimilated into GB law once within a common SPS area. (Recommendation, Paragraph 102)
Government Response Summary
The Minister for the Cabinet Office intends to bring forward primary legislation which will allow Defra to implement the SPS Agreement, and that Parliament will rightly have a say in the process.
Conclusions (4) Observations and findings — click to expand
6
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Legislative divergence between the UK and EU has occurred given the EU no longer considers GB-specific scientific evidence, such as climatic conditions relevant to mycotoxin formation or the agronomic need for certain plant 34 protection products (PPPs). As such, full adoption of EU rules in this area would risk embedding …
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Common Understanding is clear that the European Commission should consult the UK at an early stage and the UK will contribute to decision-shaping for areas in scope, providing the foundation for GB scientific evidence to be incorporated into new science-based decisions.
10
Conclusion
Acknowledged
It is essential that sectors are given sufficient time to adapt to regulatory changes introduced by an SPS agreement. This ensures compliance without causing unnecessary disruption and reflects timeframes afforded to EU member states. (Conclusion, Paragraph 39)
Government Response Summary
The government says it intends the agreement to take effect in mid-2027, and that they will continue to work with businesses to ensure a smooth transition.
20
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We will continue to monitor access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland and scrutinise the effectiveness of both the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme and the Veterinary Medicines Health Situations Scheme. (Conclusion, Paragraph 59)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's continued monitoring of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland and states that no significant issues have been reported, and medicines supply remains stable.
38
Conclusion
Acknowledged
There is uncertainty regarding the Government’s resource capacity to deliver the extensive regulatory changes required to establish a common SPS area with the EU by the ambitious June 2027 deadline. This work is a substantial legislative and operational undertaking, which must be achieved while simultaneously fulfilling commitments under major policy …
Government Response Summary
HMT and the FSA will keep budgets under review in the usual way, and any adjustments would be confirmed at relevant Main or Supplementary Estimates.