MPs wary of SPS fallout as EU talks resume

Government plans to secure a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) deal with the EU, to free-up cross-border trade, must deliver for UK farmers and not work to their disadvantage, according to a new report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee.

Negotiations have resumed this week between Westminster and Brussels, with both parties keen to secure an agreement “by the time of the next EU-UK summit” – expected later this year.

See also: Industry concerns grow over alignment with EU crop regulation

Under an SPS deal, the UK and EU would harmonise standards so that the vast majority of movements of animals, animal products, plants and plant products could be undertaken without the current raft of controls and paperwork.

Potential gains

Efra committee chairman Alistair Carmichael acknowledged the potential gains to be had.

“Making it easier to trade with our European neighbours should present a feast of benefits for British businesses, farmers and consumers,” he said.

“But there is a lot on the menu for the government to consider.”

In particular, the government should avoid undercutting British farmers by allowing in animal products from EU countries operating to lower welfare standards.

“The use of pesticides is also a delicate subject,” Sir Alistair said.

“It would be a mistake for dynamic alignment to lead to products that are banned in the EU also being outlawed in the UK, despite not having been tested in our climate and production systems.”

Plant protection lobby group CropLife UK recently warned that the loss of certain pesticides could lead to significant yield drops, cutting cereal sector profits by over £800m.

It has also warned against the possible loss of scientific gains linked to gene editing, where England is ahead of the regulatory curve – something that is also covered in the Efra committee report, which seeks an exemption from EU rules for precision breeding.

Reservations

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said he had similar reservations.

“Government is clearly ambitious for alignment by mid-2027, but we cannot allow farmers’ hands to be tied by an arbitrary deadline,” he said.

“Nor can we allow lower-standard imports to undercut UK food when we’re driving ever higher production standards here.”

However, the government remains upbeat about the potential gains of its SPS strategy.

A spokesman said: “A food and drink deal could deliver up to £5.1bn a year for the UK economy.

“It will slash red tape, cut costs and delays at the border, and lift barriers on a wider range of UK exports to the EU – supporting farmers, producers and businesses across the UK.

“The UK and EU are clear that there will be some exceptions which we’re negotiating now. But we won’t provide a running commentary on those talks.”