Guidance

SPS agreement: preparing your business

Updated 9 March 2026

The government is forming a new strategic partnership 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.

It is our intent that the agreement will take effect in mid-2027. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) knows that some businesses will need longer to adjust to the new arrangements. We will work with those businesses to make sure there is a smooth transition. Every business in the agri-food sector should start to prepare for the changes now.

Exact timings of when arrangements will change are subject to the outcome of ongoing negotiations. We will publish updates as negotiations progress.

Read more about the agreement and its expected benefits.

Check if the changes will affect your business

You’ll need to be aware of these changes if your business is involved in producing, handling, trading or moving:

• animals and animal products
• food and feed
• pesticides and biocides
• plants and plant products

‘Moving’ includes most movements of these goods between the UK and the EU, and in most cases within the UK itself. This includes movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

This applies to all businesses, including small or medium-sized businesses, even if you do not trade directly with the EU.

For example, you’re likely to be affected if you are a:

• farmer or primary producer
• food, feed and drink manufacturer
• haulier or logistics provider
• importer or exporter of SPS goods (including animals, animal products, plants and plant products, used farm or forestry machinery)
• pesticide and biocide manufacturers and suppliers
• retailer or wholesaler
• seed, plant or horticultural supplier or producer
• veterinarian

Areas in scope

Changes under the SPS agreement will affect rules in areas including:

• official controls across the agrifood system
• general food law, consumer information and hygiene rules
• food additives, flavourings, supplements, and novel foods
• food and feed contaminants
• marketing standards for specific foods
• food contact materials
• other food‑related measures (such as organic rules, mineral waters and irradiation)
• feed products and feed hygiene
• genetically modified organisms
• animal health, breeding and welfare
• plant health
• plant and forest reproductive material
• plant protection products (pesticides) and their respective maximum residue levels
• biocides
• veterinary medicines maximum residue limits and antimicrobial resistance

Trade will resume in products such as fresh sausages and burgers, certain types of shellfish, and seed potatoes.

Check the list of EU legislation currently in scope of the negotiations in the UK-EU SPS agreement – legislation in scope. These are the areas where you might need to take action. 

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 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

Preparing for the changes

It’s a priority for Defra to listen to you, to make sure your valuable feedback shapes our approach.

We are launching a call for information to hear directly from businesses about what you need to support implementation requirements. This will shape the practical guidance and support we provide, so businesses of all sizes are ready for the changes.

We will be working with businesses and trade associations to develop support and guidance.

This will be informed by what you tell us in our UK-EU SPS agreement: call for information.

The government is also considering targeted transitional arrangements for sectors that will find it most challenging to implement the changes.  

The exact details and timings of the agreement are still subject to discussions with the EU.

Digital systems

The government is currently reviewing the digital systems that you will need to use following the SPS agreement.

For most imports from the EU, you will not need to use digital systems. This is because most goods will be exempt from prenotification controls.

Goods that are not exempt will need to use EU digital systems, such as TRACES NT.

There will be no change to digital systems for customs declarations.

We will continue to work closely with industry and provide more guidance on how digital systems will work as negotiations progress.

Processes

Once the agreement comes into effect, goods entering Great Britain from the EU, or Northern Ireland from Great Britain, will no longer need:

• export health certificates
• phytosanitary certificates
• ISPM15 marking (for wood packaging material)
• Northern Ireland plant health labels

You may need simplified certification for very limited types of movement from Great Britain to Northern Ireland (such as live animals). This will be in line with arrangements from before leaving the EU.

Dairy, fish, eggs, meat, plants and plant products will no longer need routine SPS border checks when entering Great Britain from the EU, or Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

There will still be processes to monitor compliance with biosecurity requirements for certain goods introduced into and moved within Great Britain.

Staying informed

To stay informed, you can:

• connect with your trade body or industry association
• engage with your supply chain to understand any changes that may apply to them
• sign up for Defra email alerts and the business readiness mailing list to receive the latest updates
• read the UK-EU SPS agreement – information for business

Defra will continue to work closely with industry. We’ll regularly update you and refine communications so that organisations of all sizes have the clarity and support needed to be ready from day one.