The UK Government has confirmed that it will suspend the planned introduction of further border checks on live animal imports from the EU, as well as on certain animal and plant goods arriving from Ireland.
The decision comes ahead of a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement currently being negotiated between the UK and the EU. Once implemented, the deal will reduce routine border checks, cut down paperwork, and simplify food trade with the UK’s largest market – while maintaining high standards of biosecurity.
What’s Changing?
- Planned additional border checks on live animal imports from the EU will no longer go ahead.
- Certain animal and plant goods from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (‘non-qualifying goods’) will also be exempt from new physical checks.
- Certification and pre-notification requirements remain in place for non-qualifying goods.
- Existing measures under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) will continue to apply, and traders must still comply with them until the new deal is finalised.
Why Has This Been Introduced?
The Government has said the suspension is designed to:
- Ease trade with the EU ahead of the SPS deal taking effect.
- Reduce delays and costs for businesses moving food and agricultural products.
- Maintain biosecurity through risk-based inspections and surveillance rather than blanket checks.
This follows the announcement in June that checks on medium-risk EU fruit and vegetable imports were suspended until at least 31 January 2027, also in preparation for the SPS deal.
What Happens Next?
- The suspension will be kept under rolling review to ensure biosecurity is maintained.
- Defra will continue to work with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Border Control Post operators, and Port Health Authorities to manage risks while minimising disruption to trade.
- A timeline for when the UK-EU SPS agreement will come into force has not yet been confirmed.
Biosecurity Minister Baroness Hayman said the SPS deal will “boost British businesses as we cut cumbersome bureaucracy and make trading food with our biggest market both cheaper and easier.”
Until the agreement is implemented, businesses must continue to follow existing BTOM requirements.
Note: This information is correct as of 19 August 2025 and may be subject to change as negotiations progress. You can read the government’s full announcement here: UK/EU Summit – Key documentation – GOV.UK