Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
5th Report - UK-EU agritrade: making an SPS agreement work
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 1661
Published 5 February 2026
Recommendations
15
Rejected
Set out detailed contingency plans for SPS negotiations, ensuring continuity of core border functions
Recommendation
The Government should set out, in response to this report, its contingency plans for the SPS negotiations, recognising that an SPS agreement is not guaranteed. These should set out how core functions such as biosecurity, border operations, and regulatory oversight …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that negotiations are underway and current border and biosecurity measures will remain in place until a deal is reached or negotiations fail.
17
Rejected
Provide a clear, time-bound strategy for addressing UK internal market trade barriers
Recommendation
In response to this report, the Government should provide the Committee with a clear, time bound strategy for addressing market barriers to trade within the UK, including structured engagement with devolved governments and options for mutual recognition, common frameworks or …
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Government Response Summary
The government does not accept the recommendation, stating that negotiations with the EU on an SPS Agreement are underway and Defra officials have regularly engaged devolved governments.
Conclusions (2)
14
Conclusion
Rejected
The Government and EU leadership broadly support reaching an SPS agreement, and it is currently feasible that the June 2027 ambition can be met. However, the Government must consider what will happen if negotiations take longer or ultimately fail, ensuring that day-to-day functions such as biosecurity, border operations, and regulatory …
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that negotiations are underway and current border and biosecurity measures will remain in place until a deal is reached or negotiations fail.
16
Conclusion
Rejected
The Committee did not receive a clear or satisfactory explanation of how the Government intends to address UK internal market issues created by the England only Precision Breeding Act. (Conclusion, Paragraph 51)
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation and says that Defra officials have regularly engaged devolved governments on the Precision Breeding Act, implementing Regulations and SPS negotiations related to precision breeding, and will continue to do so.