I have first-hand experience of working inside the food and drink industry, so I don’t need a report to tell me what Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements have cost this sector – I watched it happen on the ground.
UK food and drink exporters have spent over £200 million on export health certificates since Brexit controls began, with vet certificates running up to £200 each and over a million issued.[1] The Common User Charge falls hardest on smaller operators moving mixed, less-than-truckload consignments, and some EU suppliers are already warning customers they’ll reconsider supplying Great Britain once current contracts expire.[2] Add border delays of up to 24 hours to a sector built on just-in-time delivery of perishable goods[3], and it’s little wonder food businesses have carried a disproportionate share of the UK’s new border regime. Which is exactly why the developments below deserve your attention.
A new deal taking shape: the UK–EU SPS Agreement
At the UK–EU Reset Summit in May 2025, both sides agreed to work towards a ‘Common SPS Area’, dynamically aligning Great Britain with EU rules on food safety, animal and plant health, organics, pesticides and marketing standards.[4] Negotiations opened in December 2025, with legislation targeted for January 2027 and the agreement expected to take effect around mid-2027.[5] If it lands as proposed, most agri-food movements between Great Britain and the EU would no longer need export health certificates, phytosanitary certificates or routine checks — real relief after everything above. The trade-off: a UK financial contribution, ongoing alignment with EU rules, and the Court of Justice of the EU as the final interpreter.
The Single Trade Window has quietly closed
The single login promised to simplify today’s patchwork of customs systems has not survived contact with the Treasury. Delivery was paused for 2025/26 on cost grounds, and by February 2026 the programme had, in practice, been shut down: over £111 million spent, no staff assigned, no budget, contract closed.[6] Officials call it a pause; independent commentators call it cancellation in all but name. Plan around the systems that are staying — CDS, Safety & Security GB (ICS2), and GVMS.
Safety and security declarations: live, and getting stricter
Entry Summary Declarations for EU imports went live on 31 January 2025, having slipped from their original October 2024 date.[7] Since go-live, HMRC has been asking for more data, not less — expect this to keep tightening rather than loosening.
Also worth knowing
Common User Charge: rates unchanged (£10 low risk, £29 medium/high risk per line) but reviewed annually.[8] Fresh produce: medium-risk EU fruit and veg checks paused in
June 2025, delayed to at least January 2027.[9] AEO status: increasingly worth pursuing for consistently lighter-touch treatment at the border.[10]
What this means for you
The cost and complexity of the last few years has been real, and it hasn’t fallen evenly — smaller food businesses have felt it hardest. Stay compliant with today’s requirements, but don’t over-invest in permanent infrastructure built solely around the current regime: large parts of it may be scaled back within 12–18 months. For a tailored briefing on what this means for your supply chain, get in touch.
Need help navigating the changes?
Keeping up with changing border requirements is one thing; making sure your own international trade processes are working efficiently is another. From customs and compliance to import and export procedures, International Trade Matters can help you understand what the changes mean for your business and where there may be opportunities to simplify and improve the way you trade.
If you’d like to discuss your requirements, contact us by using the form below, or find out more about our international trade services.
References
[1] The Grocer, “Brexit export health certificate costs mount to £200m,” thegrocer.co.uk/news/uk-food-exporters-have-spent-over-200m-on-vet-paperwork-since-brexit/693897.article
[2] The Grocer, “Common user charge may mean EU trade for some businesses ends,” thegrocer.co.uk/brexit/common-user-charge-may-mean-eu-trade-for-some-businesses-ends/690030.article
[3] UK in a Changing Europe, “The UK’s border with the EU,” ukandeu.ac.uk/explainers/the-uks-border-with-the-eu
[4] GOV.UK, “UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding,” gov.uk/government/publications/ukeu-summit-key-documentation/uk-eu-summit-common-understanding-html
[5] Agricultural Industries Confederation, “EU–UK SPS Agreement – Early 2026 Update and Sector Impacts,” agindustries.org.uk/resource/blog-eu-uk-sps-update-where-things-stand-in-early-2026.html
[6] The Register, “UK’s post-Brexit border dream closed after £111M spent,” theregister.com/2026/02/17/uk_single_trade_window
[7] ICAEW, “New requirements for EU-GB imports from 31 January,” icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jan-2025/new-requirements-for-eu-gb-imports-from-31-january
[8] GOV.UK, “Common User Charge: rates and eligibility,” gov.uk/guidance/common-user-charge-rates-and-eligibility
[9] British International Freight Association, “Import Checks on Medium Risk Fruit and Vegetables from the EU Delayed,” bifa.org/2025/06/02/import-checks-on-medium-risk-fruit-and-vegetables-from-the-eu-delayed
[10] GOV.UK, “Find out what types of Authorised Economic Operator status you can apply for,” gov.uk/guidance/authorised-economic-operator-certification
All sources accessed September 2026.
