Latest news with #SanitaryandPhytosanitaryArea
Agriland
20-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
EU-UK deal will end need for almost 80k vet export certs
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, along with Ministers of State Timmy Dooley, Noel Grealish and Michael Healy-Rae, have welcomed the outcome of yesterday's EU-UK summit for Ireland's agri-food and fisheries sectors. The first major post-Brexit deal between the EU and the UK 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 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. Commenting on the announcement, Minister Martin Heydon said: 'I strongly welcome the positive outcome of [the] EU-UK summit. 'For the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors, the agreements reached between the EU and UK are of the utmost importance, and promise a fair and stable future relationship which will benefits these sectors in Ireland and in the UK. 'Recent trade tensions have led to concerns for our farmers, fishers, and food and drink businesses. Having certainty and stability with the UK as our key trading partner will be reassuring to all those in the agri-food and marine sectors'. In relation to the commitment to a future SPS agreement, Minister Heydon commented: 'The UK remains by far the most important market for Irish agri-food exports, and we also have significant imports from the UK. 'There are long-established and mutually beneficial trading relationships between food producers in Ireland and food businesses and retailers in the UK. 'SPS, or sanitary and phytosanitary standards, relates to food safety and animal and plant health controls and standards. The commitment… towards the negotiation of an SPS agreement between the EU and the UK is very welcome,' he added. Minister Heydon added that in relation to Irish exports, a comprehensive SPS agreement would greatly reduce the administrative burden on agri-food businesses exporting to the UK. 'My department produces around 80,000 veterinary export certificates a year to accompany Irish agri-food exports to the UK,' the agriculture minister continued. 'A comprehensive SPS agreement would eliminate the requirement for almost all of these certs. In relation to imports, a comprehensive SPS agreement would remove the requirement for food safety controls and checks on agri-food imports from the UK, which are currently carried out by my department at Irish ports and airports. 'I will closely follow progress on these SPS negotiations, and I hope that they will conclude successfully in as short a period as possible,' the minister concluded. Minister of State with responsibility for food promotion, new markets and research and development, Noel Grealish commented: 'The UK is our closest and most important export market. '[The] commitment to a comprehensive SPS agreement will be of significant benefit to Irish food and drink businesses. They can now plan for a future without the current administrative burdens associated with exporting to the UK.' Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, farm safety and horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae added: 'The UK is the number one export destination for our exports of forest products and horticulture. 'I look forward to the increased opportunity that will result from an SPS agreement to reduce the burden on exporting businesses.'
Agriland
19-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
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'.
