UK to sell ‘burgers/sausages' into EU again as new post-Brexit deal unveiled
The first major post-Brexit deal between the EU and the UK unveiled today (Monday, May 19) in London is set to make food and drink imports and exports 'easier' thanks to a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement on plant and animal products.
The SPS agreement, which was announced following the first EU-UK Summit in London today, will see the UK and the European Commission 'work towards establishing a Common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area'.
This would result in the 'vast majority of movements of animals, animal products, plants, and plant products between Great Britain and the European Union' being undertaken without the certificates or controls that are currently required.
The post-Brexit deal has been described as a 'new chapter' for the UK/EU relationship and will kick start talks on a range of wider issues including security, defence and fishing access.
The Tánaiste Simon Harris said the new 'strategic partnership' between the EU and the UK 'is clearly to the benefit of people and businesses across our continent and across the island of Ireland'.
The Tánaiste also said it was very important that the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland had been taken into account.
'A broad-based SPS agreement would bring significant benefits for Northern Ireland business and consumers, and for the efficient operation of the Windsor Framework,' he added.
EU/UK deal
According to the British government, the new EU/UK deal will 'make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing the red tape that placed burdens on businesses and led to lengthy lorry queues at the border'.
It also outlined that 'some routine checks on animal and plant products will be removed completely, allowing goods to flow freely again, including between Great Britain and Northern Ireland'.
The British government believes that this 'ultimately this could lower food prices and increase choice on supermarket shelves – meaning more money in people's pockets'.
It also highlighted today that the EU remains the UK's largest trading partner and that there had been a 21% drop in exports and 7% drop in imports since Brexit.
However, the government said today that, as a result of the new deal, 'the UK will be able to sell various products, such as burgers and sausages, back into the EU again'.
European Commission
The European Commission published its 'A renewed agenda for European Union – United Kingdom cooperation Common Understanding' document following the EU-UK Summit today.
It sets out 60 key points in relation to the new deal including the terms of the SPS Agreement.
According to the commission, this 'should cover sanitary, phytosanitary, food safety and general consumer protection rules applicable to the production, distribution and consumption of agrifood products, the regulation of live animals and pesticides, the rules on organics as well as marketing standards applicable to certain sectors or products'.
It also sets out that the 'continued application of the Windsor Framework would provide for Northern Ireland maintaining its privileged unique dual access to both the European Union single market and the United Kingdom internal market'.
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