The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is calling for a transition period before the Government introduces a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the European Union.
The NFU says this is vital to avoid UK farmers being hit by costly and disruptive changes, with current Government plans aiming for the agreement to take effect in mid-2027.
Tom Bradshaw, president of the NFU, said: “The main thing we’re hearing from our members is the need for a sufficient transition period.
“Farming is a long-term business – many farmers are making production decisions now that will impact food sold beyond mid-2027.
“The Government has said it is considering transitional arrangements for some sectors.
“If this agreement is to work for the British farming sector, it cannot be bound by an impractical deadline which will only increase the cost of producing food, both for the domestic and EU market.
“We need government to take a pragmatic approach and give farmers the time needed to adjust.”
The proposed SPS agreement would require the UK to align with certain EU food, feed and farming regulations, some of which have diverged since Brexit.
The Government has published an initial list of regulations likely to fall under the agreement, though negotiations are still ongoing and more could be added.
According to the NFU, these new rules would apply to the domestic market as well as products traded with the EU.
The union is specifically asking for transitional arrangements in areas such as organic practices, plant protection and biocidal products.
It is also calling for UK industry progress in combatting anti-microbial resistance and precision breeding technology to be safeguarded, and wants to ensure that GB’s ability to continue to develop and potentially deploy a cattle vaccine for bovine TB is preserved.
Mr Bradshaw said: “The SPS agreement covers hundreds of pieces of regulation, and it’s important Defra takes time to explain to farmers and growers how alignment with the EU rules could affect their businesses.”
The NFU is currently engaging with the Government and the European Commission, advocating for a deal that supports a thriving, productive and profitable farming sector in Britain.
The union is also running a six-week “call for information” with its members, designed to identify potential issues and help businesses prepare for any resulting changes.
Mr Bradshaw said: “We want to hear about any concerns members have over the implementation of the SPS agreement so we can provide a clear picture to government of what is needed to ensure farmers and growers can benefit from this deal.”
The Government has indicated it is open to transition periods for some sectors.