The European Commission and the United Kingdom have unveiled plans to create a Common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Area under a future EU-UK SPS Agreement.
The initiative is designed to lower trade barriers for agri-food products, reduce administrative complexity, and facilitate smoother cross-border supply chains — particularly between Great Britain, the EU, and Northern Ireland.
“This is a long-awaited and very welcome announcement,” Euroseeds Secretary General & CEO Garlich von Essen said. “A common SPS framework will go a long way in restoring predictability and efficiency in EU-UK trade, specifically also in plant and plant products. Euroseeds supports the commitment to dynamic co-operation, and we look forward to continued dialogue to ensure practical, science-based rules for all operators along the value chain.”
This joint commitment represents a major step toward reducing trade barriers for agri-food products moving between Great Britain, the EU, and Northern Ireland — while upholding high standards in food safety, animal and plant health, and consumer protection, according to a press release.
The proposed SPS Agreement aims to minimize duplication, enhance predictability, and eliminate many of the existing obstacles to the seamless trade of agricultural goods, ultimately benefiting producers, traders, and consumers.
Both sides have agreed to maintain a structured, ongoing dialogue to support continued alignment and transparency. This exchange will be essential in shaping a responsive and effective SPS framework that reflects evolving cross-border trade realities and regulatory developments, while respecting the constitutional arrangements of each party.
Today’s announcement underscores a strong commitment to cooperation. We welcome the inclusive approach taken so far and look forward to ongoing engagement to ensure the final SPS Agreement delivers tangible benefits for businesses and protects the integrity of both the UK and EU markets.
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