CFA continues to engage closely with Government on preparations for a potential SPS Agreement between the UK and the EU with the aim of easing post-Brexit trade restrictions.
Karin Goodburn established and chairs the SPS Certification Working Group (www.chilledfood.org/brexit), which comprises some 30 trade and professional organisations and meets weekly with senior officials across relevant departments and agencies. A summary of legislative divergences requiring attention in the streamlining of trade has been shared with Government officials and with the Lords EU Affairs and Commons EFRA Committees.
Concerns focus on the lack of clarity of precisely what legislation will be within the scope of the Agreement, without which planning for change is severely hindered, Government’s policy of seeking Dynamic Alignment (DA) and impacts of EU/UK regulatory divergence since the end of the Transition Period. DA means adoption of EU legislation passed since the end of the Transition Period, and on an ongoing basis, yet without full representation in its development. Divergence from EU legislation has occurred either due to EU or UK laws being changed since Brexit.
In the meantime CFA continues to compile APHA data on the cost of Export Health Certificate completion for certain exports to the EU post-Brexit remains around £3.5m per month – more than £280m since the end of the Transition Period. This is equivalent to the profit from over £14 billion in food sales, and a continued reminder of the commercial stakes involved in getting these negotiations right.
