At the UK-EU Summit held in London on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU announced a new Strategic Partnership to strengthen political, economic and security cooperation.
For our members in the animal, food and plant import sectors, the most important development is the agreement to pursue a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, which will make agri-food trade with the EU cheaper, simpler and less bureaucratic.
Immediate Impact for Importers
In light of the Summit’s outcomes, the UK Government and devolved administrations have decided to pause the implementation of further border checks on:
- EU and EFTA live animals
- Non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods arriving from Ireland and Northern Ireland
While negotiations on the SPS Agreement continue, the following measures apply:
- Live animals: Existing controls for Rest of World imports at Border Control Posts remain. EU and EFTA imports will continue to undergo remote documentary and destination checks.
- Non-qualifying NI goods: Pre-notification and certification will continue where required.
- Goods in transit (Ireland–GB–EU): Current controls remain unchanged.
- Medium-risk fruit and vegetables from the EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein: The current easement is temporarily extended.
BTOM controls already in place remain operational, ensuring continued protection of biosecurity and public health.
Strategic Context
Beyond trade, the UK and EU also agreed on a wide-ranging Strategic Partnership covering security, defence, development cooperation, climate action, and global challenges. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Withdrawal Agreement, Windsor Framework and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, while opening the door for deeper cooperation in the years ahead.
Next Steps
Negotiations on the SPS Agreement are ongoing. The UK Government has pledged to engage closely with stakeholders and provide clear advance notice of any changes.
Read the full Joint Statement here: UK-EU Summit 2025 – Joint Statement (GOV.UK)