Temperature-controlled operator JS Davidson has welcomed the forthcoming UK-EU SPS Agreement, which it said would be a “significant step” towards restoring smoother trade in food and agricultural products between the UK and EU.

JS Davidson said the deal would save businesses time and money by “cutting unnecessary red tape”, which it said would help to speed up the flow of agrifood trade at the border.

According to a report by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) in March, UK food export volumes to the European Union dropped by 34.1% in 2024 compared to 2019 levels, which it said “largely attributed” to post-Brexit trading arrangements and the increased bureaucracy and complexity of trading with the EU.

The report also highlighted that food and drink imports entering the UK faced fewer checks than equivalent products exported by UK businesses, with SME exporters finding it “particularly difficult” to comply with the EU’s more stringent import requirements.

By establishing a joint sanitary and phytosanitary zone, the deal eliminates most routine document and physical checks, lifting EU restrictions on previously banned UK products such as fresh sausages and burgers. Documentary and physical inspections will no longer apply, and Export Health Certificates for animals and animal products will be scrapped.

The UK Government estimated that the new SPS framework could boost trade with the EU by as much as £5.1 billion annually, said JS Davidson, with particular benefits expected for exporters of meat, dairy, seafood, eggs and other high-volume agri-food products.

“There are still challenges that inevitably need to be ironed out, but the SPS Agreement is a sign that both the UK and EU are committed to implementing practical solutions to obvious problems.”

John Davidson, managing director at JS Davidson, said he believes that once the SPS agreement comes into effect, it will “stimulate greater levels of trade” from European food manufacturers into the UK, providing new opportunities for growth that previously had been “constrained” by bureaucratic barriers.

Davidson commented: “The new agreement promises smoother UK-EU food and drink trade which is good news for the industry as a whole. It’s no secret that the pre-existing framework has been causing serious issues, particularly on the French side of the border. UK businesses have faced disproportionate challenges as a result, with SMEs being hit particularly hard so the removal of Export Health Certificates and routine checks will be a lifeline for these businesses, allowing them to compete more effectively in the EU market.

“Since Brexit, we’ve also heard about horror stories almost every week of vehicles being rejected or goods impounded, often because of simple mistakes such as spelling errors or minor documentation issues. These incidents have cost hauliers significant sums, with operators frequently blamed for problems beyond their control. It’s been a nightmare all round and at some point, something needed to give.

“There are still challenges that inevitably need to be ironed out, but the SPS Agreement is a sign that both the UK and EU are committed to implementing practical solutions to obvious problems and we welcome its introduction. Looking ahead, we’re excited to see the positive impact that this will have on the UK economy and its potential in restoring much needed confidence among food producers in their ability to trade across the border, and hopefully reversing declining food export volumes from the UK into the EU.”