Fresh produce body warns SPS deal ‘shifts’ border costs

The UK’s fresh produce sector has warned that the government’s planned sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU risks shifting more than £300m in border costs onto imports from the rest of the world, raising concerns over food prices, availability and supply chain resilience.

It comes as the government this week released further details of its ongoing SPS negotiations with the EU, setting out plans for dynamic alignment with EU rules and urging businesses to prepare for implementation by mid-2027.

Trade specialist David Henig said any agreement was likely to reduce friction for UK-EU trade while increasing costs for some imports from outside the bloc.

See also: Defra issues detailed guidance on EU SPS deal

“Some goods entering Great Britain from the rest of the world are likely to become more expensive because of the additional requirements.

“But trade with the EU should become easier as barriers are reduced,” he told Farmers Weekly.

Mr Henig, UK director of the European Centre for International Political Economy think tank, said it was too early to know whether the deal would take effect by the middle of 2027, as negotiations were still ongoing.

“On balance, it is a good thing, but not everybody will benefit,” he added.

The warning from the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) follows newly published Defra guidance confirming that the UK intends to align with EU SPS rules for imports from non-EU countries.

The FPC is the UK’s trade association for the fresh produce sector, including fresh fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and plants, with more than 600 members, representing 70% of the UK fresh produce supply chain.

It says this would introduce additional inspections, certification requirements and pre-notification obligations for fruit, vegetables and other produce entering the UK.

About half of the UK’s fresh produce – up to 4m tonnes a year – is sourced from the rest of the world, meaning a significant share of supply could fall within the scope of expanded controls.

The organisation says these imports already achieve more than 99.5% compliance under the UK’s current risk-based regime, calling into question the need for further bureaucratic checks and processes.

‘New burdens’

Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC, said the government’s guidance showed the deal would shift, rather than remove, costs and border friction by easing trade with the EU while imposing new burdens on imports from the rest of the world.

The consortium is calling for an independent impact assessment before any final alignment measures are agreed.

It warned that expanded controls on perishable imports could disrupt supply chains and increase costs for consumers.

Biosecurity minister Baroness Hayman said the agreement could boost the UK economy by up to £5.1bn a year, while cutting border delays and paperwork, supporting jobs and helping to ease pressure on food prices.