New date set for alignment with EU regulations

A bilateral summit between the UK and EU is due to take place on 22 July, according to statements from EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and UK prime minster Sir Keir Starmer.

The summit is expected to strengthen ties between the UK and the bloc and is set to formalise a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement that should mean fewer border checks and smoother movement of animal and plant products.

In a statement, Sir Keir said: “My Labour government is delivering on our promise to reset our relationship and put Britain at the heart of Europe.”

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The agreement had originally been scheduled to take place on 13 July, although was delayed as the final negotiations continued.

The proposed timeline has, however, been put in some doubt following the prime minister’s announcement on Monday morning (22 June) that he will resign as Labour leader.

Sir Keir is expected to remain in post until a new successor is confirmed, with nominations opening on 9 July.

A change in leadership could lead to the deal being delayed further, altered, or even dropped.

If it is signed off on 22 July, then a 12-month implementation period will begin, with dynamic alignment set to be fully introduced from July 2027.

The NFU’s British Agriculture Bureau in Brussels says this means that farmers and growers in Great Britain will have to comply with EU rules in areas ranging from plant protection products and organics to animal health and disease control.

Initial guidance has already been published on the UK government website to help farm businesses understand the likely impacts on their own businesses.