The trade landscape between the UK and EU is undergoing another major shift. A forthcoming UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement promises to fundamentally change how plant and animal products move across borders — with far-reaching implications for food businesses, agricultural traders and logistics operators on both sides of the Channel.

Understanding the SPS Agreement

Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures are the rules and standards applied to protect human, animal and plant health. Since Brexit, UK-EU trade in food, plants and live animals has been subject to significantly increased border controls — adding cost, time and complexity for businesses involved in agrifood trade.

The forthcoming SPS agreement would create a joint UK-EU sanitary zone. In practical terms, this means goods moving between the UK and EU markets would face the same SPS standards, removing the need for routine documentary checks, identity checks and physical inspections at the border.

Live Animal Checks — Already Suspended

In a significant practical step, live animal import checks between the UK and EU were suspended in August 2025. This pre-emptive move aligns with the direction of the SPS negotiations and signals a policy shift towards reduced border friction for animal movements.

For livestock traders, equine businesses and zoo suppliers, this suspension has already brought tangible relief from the administrative burden that applied since the introduction of BTOM controls.

Fruit, Vegetables and Plant Products

Routine border checks on fruit, vegetables and other plant products have been extended until 31 January 2027. This gives the UK and EU sufficient time to complete and implement the SPS agreement before the standard BTOM control regime fully kicks in for these categories.

For businesses importing fresh produce, this provides a window of relative operational continuity — but it is essential to plan for the transition, as requirements may change once the SPS deal formally takes effect.

BTOM Remains in Force

The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) — introduced in 2023 to create a new UK import control regime — remains the operative framework until the SPS agreement takes effect. This means that businesses must continue to comply with BTOM requirements, including pre-notification of animal and plant products and health documentation.

Businesses looking for SPS compliance advisors should ensure they have up-to-date processes in place for BTOM while monitoring developments in SPS negotiations. For specialist support on import food UK services, specialist advice is strongly recommended.

What This Means for Supply Chains

The SPS agreement, once concluded, will represent the most significant simplification of UK-EU agrifood trade since Brexit. Businesses should prepare by:

• Reviewing current BTOM compliance procedures and documentation workflows.
• Identifying which product lines will be most affected by reduced border checks.
• Assessing the potential cost and time savings from streamlined SPS procedures.
• Staying informed through official GOV.UK channels for implementation timelines.
• Engaging customs and SPS specialists to adapt processes ahead of the transition.

Government Source

The official announcement is available at: GOV.UK — Extra border checks cancelled ahead of UK-EU deal.