NFU Scotland has welcomed the UK Government’s agreement in principle with the European Union to establish a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, aimed at removing many of the costly trade barriers facing Scottish agriculture since Brexit.
The deal, announced as part of a broader UK-EU summit package, is expected to significantly reduce paperwork, certification requirements and border delays for Scottish exports such as beef, lamb, dairy and allow the resumption in the trade for seed potatoes.
NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon said:
“This agreement marks a welcome shift towards reducing the red tape and costs that have frustrated Scottish farmers and food exporters for years. While details are still emerging, anything that helps restore smoother trade with our largest export market is a positive step.”
The new SPS framework is expected to:
- Remove Export Health Certificates for many consignments
- Ease trade in key Scottish products, and resolve the long-standing issue of seed potato exports
- Eliminate routine border checks and simplify certification processes for animal and plant goods
NFU Scotland has consistently called for free and frictionless trade with the EU and this development is seen as a vital step toward addressing the post-Brexit disruption that has hit agri-food exporters particularly hard.
“We support practical solutions that reduce friction and support our members’ ability to compete. This is about improving trade flow while maintaining high standards, not about returning to rule-taking,” added Mr Connon.
NFU Scotland will now engage closely with the UK and Scottish Governments and with the wider UK farming unions, to help shape the detail of the new agreement.
“The devil will be in the detail. We need to ensure this works across all sectors - from livestock to seed potatoes and delivers real benefits on the ground. The principle of the deal is dynamic alignment with EU policy-but we need to understand what the exceptions might be and how this might work in practice.”
The Union will provide further updates to members as the policy framework develops in the months ahead.
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Contact Carly Ross on 07860 642 826