United Kingdom: UK Government Releases Guidance on Proposed Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement with EU

On May 28, the United Kingdom's Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs published guidance to prepare for a potential UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement. In summary, the guidance (expected to enter into force in mid-2027) indicates the agreement reinstates the EU's legislation governing food, feed safety, and agricultural production in the UK. One exception, subject to ongoing negotiations, appears to be whether the UK's precision breeding legislation will be retained. Additionally, whether or not the agreement will allow for a transition period for UK producers to comply with these changes is unclear. The UK government did confirm that an SPS agreement with the EU will result in increased inspection rates of certain Rest of the World (i.e., non-EU) imports.