Guidance

Border control post and control point operators: preparing your business

Updated 28 May 2026

Reason for the changes 

The UK government is negotiating an agreement with the EU on the trade and movement of plants, plant products, animals, animal products, feed and food. This is called a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.

The agreement means Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland will apply certain rules in line with the EU. These arrangements will apply whether or not you trade directly with the EU. It is our intention that the agreement will take effect in mid-2027.

As EU rules change in the future, rules in Great Britain will update too. The UK will contribute to the decision-shaping process on future EU rules that will also apply in Great Britain.

Read more about the benefits in the UK-EU SPS agreement – information for businesses news story.

As negotiations are ongoing, not all details are confirmed at this stage. This includes detailed requirements and the exact timing of when arrangements will change. We recognise that some businesses will take longer to comply and we are committed to working with them to ensure a smooth transition. Further information will be provided following the completion of negotiations.

Why this matters

Under the SPS agreement, you will need to follow relevant EU rules. These rules will apply whether or not you trade directly with the EU.

The changes will affect how SPS goods move between Great Britain, the EU and the rest of the world. This includes changes to border inspection requirements, certification processes and the handling of goods at border control posts (BCPs) and control points (CPs).

You may be affected by:

• changes to the types of goods that must be presented for inspection at your facility
• changes to inspection rates and processes for SPS goods
• changes to the volume and type of consignments requiring checks
• revised requirements for the designation and operation of BCPs and CPs
• different requirements for goods entering Great Britain from the EU compared with those from the rest of the world

If your business relies on imports or exports of SPS goods, these changes may also affect your supply chains and how goods move through border facilities.

Key areas where changes are expected include:

• designation of BCPs and CPs
• border inspection requirements for SPS products
• movements of plants, animals and their products

What this means for border control post and control point operators

All BCP and CP operators will need to follow relevant EU rules covered by this agreement.

The agreement aims to provide greater long-term certainty and predictability for businesses by setting up a stable framework for future trade and regulation.

The changes are expected to deliver a variety of benefits, including:

• reduced paperwork
• fewer border inspections
• faster movement of fresh goods
• more resilient supply chains
• resumption of trade in certain products, reopening EU market access

The improvements could support increased production for UK businesses and greater product choice for consumers. Read more about the benefits of the agreement in the SPS agreement – information for businesses news story.

What businesses should know at this stage

Organisations and businesses, including BCPs and CPs, are encouraged to continue engaging with the process to be ready by mid-2027.

At this stage, you are not expected to make detailed changes. You should consider the changes to requirements and how they could affect your business. The government will provide more detail in summer 2026, including next steps.

What we know now (and what will be confirmed later)

As negotiations with the EU are ongoing, not all of the details are confirmed at this stage. This information outlines what is known now to help you start planning, with further detail to follow later this year.

If you operate a BCP or CP

The rules on border inspection requirements for SPS goods will change. This will include alignment with EU rules on the types of goods eligible for inspections at your facilities, and the rate at which eligible goods are inspected. This may affect the volume and type of commodities which are called for inspection at your facility.

Aligning with EU border inspection requirements will mean routine border checks for SPS goods from the EU will be removed and inspections of certain rest of world imports will increase from current levels to align with those set out EU legislation.

Some rest of world imports not currently eligible for border inspections under the Border Target Operating Model will become eligible as we align with EU rules. Check the list of EU legislation in scope of negotiations.

If you wish to retain a designated BCP

All BCPs will need to be approved for designation by the EU Commission by the time the SPS agreement comes into effect in mid-2027. Defra will continue to work closely with the relevant Great Britain competent authorities and the EU Commission to determine what the full designation process will involve, and what BCPs can do to prepare for this. Read the current BCP and CP designation process on the plant health portal.

If you wish to retain a designated control point

CPs will not need to be approved for designation by the EU Commission; this responsibility remains with Defra. CPs will however need to comply with the EU’s minimum standards for CP facilities.

Defra is committed to working closely with our colleagues across competent authorities and CP operators to support those wishing to continue to operate their facilities.

Importing and exporting

The new SPS agreement is relevant to all businesses and organisations involved in importing and exporting SPS goods between the UK, EU and the rest of the world.

For trade between Great Britain and the EU, the SPS agreement will reduce the requirements for routine SPS documentation and controls. The requirements for export health certificates, phytosanitary certificates and routine border checks for most agrifood goods will be removed. Alignment with EU rules will mean there will be alignment with the EU’s approach to checks on rest of world SPS trade. Requirements for trade with countries outside the EU will also continue to apply, in line with international rules.

Customs controls will remain.

Great Britain to Northern Ireland movements

Under the SPS agreement, most agrifood goods will not need routine SPS certificates, checks and paperwork when moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

This will mean export health certificates and phytosanitary certificates, and the checks and controls associated with them, will no longer be required.

This will apply to all products that can be moved into the EU, which will include all food for processing, many retail products and, for example, plants for planting, seeds, and used agricultural and forestry machinery. The final restrictions on the movement of certain tree species will disappear.

The Windsor Framework will continue to apply, addressing Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances and safeguarding the Good Friday Agreement. This facilitates Northern Ireland’s dual market access to both the UK internal market and the EU single market.

In practice, the movement schemes set up under the Windsor Framework should no longer be needed, other than potentially for a limited number of goods not covered by the agreement. The Northern Ireland plant health label (NIPHL) scheme will not be needed at all.

Early considerations for your business

To prepare for the UK–EU SPS agreement, you can now take the following steps:

• sign up for Defra email alerts and the SPS readiness mailing list to receive the latest updates
• check whether the SPS agreement is likely to apply to your business, especially if you produce, handle, move or trade animals, animal products, plants, plant products, food or feed – check how to prepare your business
• review your current supply chains and movements (including domestic movements and movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland) to understand where SPS requirements may apply
• consider where your business currently follows EU rules and where you may have diverged since EU Exit
• speak to relevant partners (for example suppliers, customers, hauliers, vets or certification bodies) about potential future changes
• check with trusted sector organisations or trade bodies for any sector specific advice and updates

Exceptions

The EU has accepted there will need to be areas where the UK will retain its own rules, as set out in the May 2025 Common Understanding. Details of these are subject to the ongoing negotiation. 

The government has been clear about the importance of being able to:

• set high animal welfare standards
• support public health
• support the use of new and innovative technologies

Further information will be provided following the completion of the negotiations.

What happens next

It is our intention that the agreement will take effect in mid-2027. Some detailed requirements and exact timings of when arrangements will change are still being finalised as part of ongoing negotiations.

Defra will continue to work with the sector to help shape future communications, guidance and support as further detail becomes available. We have set up an SPS Readiness Business Advisory Council, which is now meeting regularly. The council includes major trade associations and businesses.   

The following timeline sets out the expected stages for introducing the SPS agreement and when further information will be published:

• summer 2026 – further details on upcoming changes announced, including on any exceptions and transition periods
• autumn 2026 – detailed guidance and support, including checklists and practical tools, made available
• mid-2027 – agreement takes effect (subject to negotiations)

Further information will be provided following the completion of negotiations.

Stay informed

We will continue to publish updates as further detail is confirmed. To keep up to date, you can:

• sign up for Defra email alerts and the SPS readiness mailing list
• engage with your trade body or industry association for sector-specific updates, where relevant

You can also get additional support from other government agencies if you are a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME). Contact: 

• Department for Business and Trade: Ask our export support team at the Department for Business and Trade a question
• Food Standards Agency: Regulated products application guidance 
• the control point operators mailbox (controlpointengagement@defra.gov.uk) or the port readiness mailbox (portreadiness@defra.gov.uk) if you wish to discuss anything further, directly with Defra