On 19 May 2025, the European Commission and the United Kingdom published a pivotal Common Understanding outlining the roadmap for enhanced cooperation across various domains, including the establishment of a new EU-UK Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement. This initiative marks a significant milestone in trade relations, aimed at simplifying the movement of agri-food goods while ensuring food safety, consumer protection, and biosecurity standards are upheld. For businesses, importers, and exporters in the food and agriculture sectors across the UK and EU, understanding these changes is critical for maintaining compliance and ensuring smooth customs clearance.

This article explores the implications of these developments, their potential impact on SPS procedures, and what practical steps importers and customs brokers should take now.

What Happened on 19 May 2025?

During the UK-EU summit, both sides agreed to pursue a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement that would dramatically streamline cross-border checks on agri-food products. The proposed SPS Agreement introduces:

• Dynamic alignment with EU SPS rules for goods moving from Great Britain to the EU.
• Reduced documentation and physical checks for compliant goods.
• Expanded mutual market access for agri-food products.
• Increased cooperation on food safety, live animals, and plant health.

These changes aim to restore frictionless trade conditions akin to pre-Brexit levels, provided both parties maintain strict alignment and oversight mechanisms.

Key Aspects of the New SPS Agreement

1. Territorial Scope

The Agreement will apply to trade between the EU and Great Britain, with significant implications for Northern Ireland due to the Windsor Framework. Goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland (and vice versa) would also benefit, provided the SPS Agreement is implemented in full.

2. Dynamic Regulatory Alignment

Great Britain must maintain regulatory alignment with relevant EU SPS laws. Any divergence could result in reimposition of border checks. This means UK food and agri importers need to:

• Monitor changes in EU SPS legislation.
• Adapt quickly to new EU standards.
• Ensure suppliers and partners do the same.

3. Streamlined Certification

If the Agreement is enacted as planned, the vast majority of agri-food trade between the UK and EU will no longer require Export Health Certificates (EHCs), Phytosanitary Certificates, or similar documentation, drastically cutting red tape.

4. Exceptions and Safeguards

The Agreement allows for limited exceptions to dynamic alignment, but only where:

• UK standards are equal to or higher than EU standards.
• No negative impact occurs to EU markets.
• Goods entering the EU remain fully compliant with EU rules.

This means compliance and traceability will remain key priorities for customs brokers.

5. Joint Governance and Dispute Resolution

The Agreement will be managed through a joint EU-UK governance mechanism and arbitration panel, with the Court of Justice of the EU having final jurisdiction over EU law matters. This ensures robust legal enforcement of the SPS framework.

What This Means for Importers and Exporters

Opportunities:

• Fewer border delays due to reduced SPS checks.
• Lower compliance costs for agri-food movements.
• Simpler customs processes for perishable goods.

Risks and Challenges:

• Obligatory alignment with evolving EU rules.
• Exposure to penalties for non-compliance.
• Continued administrative oversight to monitor regulatory updates.

Practical Steps to Take Now:

1. Audit Compliance: Ensure that all agri-food products, processes, and supply chains already meet or exceed EU SPS standards.
2. Update Customs Declarations: Revise documentation templates and software to reflect reduced certification needs under the proposed rules.
3. Train Staff: Provide training for regulatory, logistics, and customs staff on dynamic alignment, traceability, and record keeping.
4. Engage Suppliers: Communicate with EU/UK suppliers and partners to confirm they are informed of new rules and ready to adapt.
5. Prepare for Audits: Establish procedures and record keeping systems that prove compliance with EU rules in case of audits or inspections.

How We Support You

As a customs broker operating across the UK and EU, we:

• Monitor all relevant SPS legislative changes.
• Offer compliance checks for your agri-food products.
• Help streamline your customs clearance processes.
• Provide access to legal and regulatory expertise for dispute prevention.

Our goal is to help you stay ahead of the curve so you can focus on your business, not bureaucracy.

Timeline and Next Steps

Although the 19 May 2025 Common Understanding outlines a clear direction, the actual implementation of the SPS Agreement depends on:

• Formal negotiations.
• Legislative processes in both the UK and EU.
• Final legal text and ratification.

Businesses should expect phased roll-out starting late 2025 or early 2026, with key milestones to monitor including:

• Draft SPS Agreement text (expected Q3 2025).
• Provisional application or pilot phases.
• Full implementation and enforcement deadlines.

The 19 May 2025 summit has set in motion a potentially transformative change in SPS regulation between the EU and UK. For food and agriculture businesses, these developments signal a return to simpler, more efficient trade but only if companies stay proactive.

Now is the time to assess your readiness, align with the new standards, and consult with your customs broker to ensure smooth operations in the new regulatory environment.

Need support? We are here to help you navigate the complexity of SPS compliance. Reach out to our team for tailored advice and customs solutions.

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