Guidance

Veterinary sector: 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  

The SPS agreement will shape how animal and public health standards are set and applied, including through certification and compliance. This will apply to all businesses, not just those that import and export.  

Veterinary professionals play an important role in supporting animal health, certification, biosecurity and regulatory processes across the sector. 

Understanding the potential direction of SPS-related changes will help veterinary professionals: 

• support discussions with clients and animal owners 
• understand how future changes may affect certification, assurance, and operational processes  
• identify where further information or clarification may be needed over time 
• offer support to clients as more detailed information becomes available to help prepare them for the changes 

This information is intended to support early understanding of the changes and ensure a smooth transition across the sector.  

What it means for the veterinary sector 

These changes will affect: 

• requirements for certification and documentation  
• the time needed to support compliance and advisory work  
• questions and support clients require (including farmers, businesses, and pet owners) 
• standards and processes that underpin animal health, public health and trade  

Not all changes will apply immediately but understanding them early can help you prepare and support your clients. 

What businesses should know at this stage  

Organisations and businesses, including veterinarians, are encouraged to continue engaging with the process to be ready by mid-2027. You can do this by keeping informed through opening conversations with your relevant associations, to support readiness for compliance 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 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.   

Official vets and animal movement certification 

Export health certificates for animals and products of animal origin will no longer be required for Great Britain to EU movements once the agreement is in force. In some cases, they will be replaced by Intra Trade Animal Health Certificates (ITAHCs).  

Official Veterinarians (OVs) and authorised certifiers may have a greater role in: 

• compliance verification 
• control system audits 
• enforcement and assurance 

Many checks will no longer take place on goods moving between Great Britain and the EU, some checks will remain (such as, on live animals and germinal products). Checks will no longer take place at border control posts (BCPs). 

Imports from non-EU third countries which enter Great Britain will need to meet EU import requirements and be checked at BCPs in Great Britain. This will apply if the consignment’s destination is Great Britain, Northern Ireland or an EU member state. Once checked, the consignments will be free to move onto their place of destination in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the EU. 

If animals, products of animal origin, animal by-products and germinal products are rejected at an EU BCP, updated EU aligned rules will apply to returning them. 

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) controls are separate and additional to those for SPS and will continue to be in place after the implementation of the SPS agreement. This means that for CITES species and specimens, relevant CITES permits will still be required.   

Veterinary medicines 

Great Britain will be aligning with the EU on residue limits and surveillance of residues from veterinary medicines.   

Great Britain is not aligning with the EU’s veterinary medicines’ authorisations regime as this is not in scope of the SPS agreement. The government remains open to working with the EU and other international trading partners on the regulation of veterinary medicines to reduce regulatory burdens, and to improve animal health and welfare. 

Animal keepers 

There will be new rules, such as traceability and identification requirements for keepers of animals, including: 

• pigs 
• cattle 
• camelids 
• deer 
• equines 
• poultry 
• captive birds 
• bees 
• small ruminants  
• aquatic animals 

These changes will affect how animals are recorded, monitored and move in Great Britain. This could have implications for vets and aquatic animal health professionals. Find more information about food production, plants, animals and associated sectors.

There will be changes to the way in which diseases and outbreaks are managed, recorded and reported. Biosecurity will remain a core priority.  

We will continue to take national action to protect our biosecurity.  

Pet travel 

Travelling to the EU with pet dogs, cats and ferrets is expected to become easier and cheaper. Pet owners will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for EU travel, rather than obtaining a new animal health certificate for each trip. 

In the meantime, owners will still need an animal health certificate for their dog, cat or ferret if they are travelling from Great Britain to an EU country. Owners can check current requirements for travel to the EU: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: Travelling to an EU country.  

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. 

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 

There are also some sector-specific actions that you may wish to consider, including:  

• how the coming changes may affect your area of work  
• review where your role and your workload may be impacted (such as certification, advisory support, or compliance)   
• begin early, proactive engagement with clients, businesses and stakeholders to raise awareness of potential changes and help manage expectations 
• consider whether the upcoming changes may require additional training or professional development 
• discuss the emerging changes with colleagues and your professional networks   
• identify areas where more clarity, information or support may be needed and stay informed as more information becomes available

Exceptions 

The EU has accepted there will need to be areas where Great Britain 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  
• read the updates for OVs in the APHA briefing notes found at Official Veterinarian Training – OVs will be notified by email as these are published