UK says new food and drink deal with the EU will cut checks and lower costs for Northern Ireland trade
London says its new food and drink arrangement with the EU will remove most checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and reduce costs for agri-food businesses.
The UK government on May 14 set out details of a new food and drink arrangement with the European Union that it says will significantly ease agri-food movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds travelled to Northern Ireland this week to discuss the planned benefits with farmers, growers, food businesses and other operators in the region’s agri-food supply chain.
London says Northern Ireland already benefits from full EU market access under the Windsor Framework. The new step, according to the government, is that for the first time since EU Exit most food and drink goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will no longer require checks, including regulatory certificates. Officials said those export health documents can cost between GBP80 and GBP200 each and that over the past three years such charges have cost businesses between GBP13 million and GBP32 million.
The government describes the change as removing a “paperwork tax”. It argues that a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement will make trade easier for businesses, help British produce reach European markets and could bring down the cost of food and drink. Ministers also linked the deal to a broader reset in relations with Europe and said the wider package has the potential to lift UK GDP by up to GBP5.1 billion a year.
For agriculture and horticulture, the practical changes go beyond retail flows. At the Balmoral Show on May 14, Northern Ireland’s main farming event, Reynolds met exhibitors and sector representatives who are expected to benefit from the removal of certification requirements for plants, seeds and used agricultural and forestry machinery. The government says that should support farmers, growers, garden centres, environmental projects and other rural businesses that depend on smoother movements from Great Britain.
Northern Ireland Office minister Matthew Patrick said the region’s agrifood sector is important both to the UK economy and to food security. The UK government also used the visit to convene a roundtable with business representatives so that Northern Ireland firms are reflected in the implementation of a deal intended to cut paperwork, protect availability on supermarket shelves and ease food price inflation for households in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Retailer feedback was included as part of the announcement. M&S Ireland and Northern Ireland said it operates more than 20 stores and works with nearly 2,000 Select Farm partners in the region, and that the deal should remove unnecessary bureaucracy, reduce cost pressure and improve access to fresh produce. The legislative route will run through the European Partnership Bill, announced at the State Opening of Parliament, with the government saying businesses should begin to realise the benefits of the new framework from mid-2027.