The British Poultry Council (BPC) has welcomed the UK Government’s announcement setting out a route to a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) framework with the European Union (EU).
The agreement – aiming to reduce certification, remove border checks, and integrate with EU systems such as TRACES – is a vital step toward restoring fair, functional trade and building confidence in UK food supply chains, the trade organisation said.
BPC chief executive, Richard Griffiths, said: “This is a much-needed move that will give our producers and consumers the confidence they deserve.
“Ambition is a strong start. Now we need momentum. Swift negotiations must deliver meaningful outcomes, allowing fresh, perishable products to move seamlessly across borders, securing trade and strengthening our food security.
“That includes the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Removing barriers here is essential to avoid the delays and added costs that impact poultry meat businesses.”
Poultry meat exports to the EU have fallen by 30% since 2020, HMRC data shows – a direct result of Brexit. This has placed businesses at a large commercial disadvantage, facing unreciprocated restrictions and costs when trading with the EU.
Certification alone has cost exporters of products of animal origin a total of £250 million since 2020.
Without an agreement, the EU does not face the same costs or bureaucracy due to ineffective border controls under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).
Griffiths added: “We have long said an SPS agreement is the most meaningful way to reduce barriers and to unlock opportunity for British poultry meat. This new context could finally get us there. Levelling the playing field is the right move for businesses, for consumers, and for the economy. We look forward to working with Government to make it happen.”
AIMS also welcomed the agreement between the UK and EU to establish a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Zone.
“We have been lobbying for the last couple of years a common-sense approach to create frictionless at the border for both exports and imports from and to the UK,” said Dr Jason Aldiss, executive director, “and to the now have 100% paper work checks and up to 30% physical checks removed entirely for red meat, poultry and eggs is very welcome”.
“The cost savings in terms of Export Health Certificates , especially on groupage loads, is significant.”