AIMS has published its priorities for the UK–EU sanitary and phytosanitary negotiations, calling for immediate action to restore frictionless trade in food and agricultural products. The organisation warned that current border controls and certification systems are imposing unnecessary costs on businesses, reducing competitiveness, stifling industry growth, and damaging food security.
Dr Jason Aldiss, Executive Director of AIMS, said that the UK and EU operate to the same standards and that food safety is not the issue. He said the problem is bureaucracy, arguing that the system is regulating twice for the same risk, which makes no sense for consumers, businesses, or regulators.
AIMS is calling for immediate dynamic alignment with EU sanitary and phytosanitary law, the removal of routine border checks, the abolition of routine veterinary export certification, mutual recognition of veterinary qualifications, the removal of immigration barriers for key professionals, and the rapid adoption of risk-based inspection systems. Dr Aldiss said that modern assurance systems, digital monitoring, and intelligence-led controls can deliver better protection at lower cost than traditional models.
He added that certification is an artefact of mistrust and that where systems are equivalent, certificates are redundant. He warned that every month of delay costs British businesses money and reduces consumer choice.
AIMS also warned that smaller and regional processors are being disproportionately affected by the current arrangements. Dr Aldiss said that if bureaucracy is allowed to drive consolidation, resilience is weakened and food security is reduced.
The organisation is urging the Government and EU negotiators to focus on speed, certainty, and system recognition rather than prolonged transitional arrangements. Dr Aldiss said that delay is itself a policy choice and that it is the wrong one.