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18 August 2025

Britain Suspends Animal Import Checks Amid EU Trade Reset

The UK government pauses new border checks on live animal imports from the EU and Ireland as it negotiates a landmark food trade deal to lower prices and cut red tape.

Britain is once again revisiting its post-Brexit border arrangements, announcing on August 18, 2025, that it will suspend the planned introduction of additional checks on live animal imports from the European Union. The move, which also affects certain animal and plant goods coming from Ireland, is intended to ease trade and prevent a fresh wave of bureaucracy and costs for businesses and consumers. This decision comes as the UK government continues to negotiate the details of a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) deal with the EU, a key component of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s broader effort to reset relations with Brussels.

The SPS deal, agreed in principle in May 2025, promises to reduce paperwork and remove routine border checks on plant and animal products moving between the UK and EU, all while maintaining high food standards. However, the specifics of the agreement are still being hammered out. Until those details are finalized and implemented, British traders must stick to the terms of the UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), which aims to protect the country’s biosecurity through existing checks.

The latest suspension follows a June 2025 announcement that checks on EU fruit and vegetable imports would be scrapped. According to The i Paper, ministers have now cancelled more planned post-Brexit checks on food from the EU, following Starmer’s reset deal with Brussels. The government’s stated goal is to bring down prices for supermarket shoppers and make life easier for businesses, especially those dependent on cross-border food trade.

Baroness Hayman, the UK’s biosecurity minister, emphasized the economic benefits of the agreement, stating, “Our deal with the EU will boost British businesses as we cut cumbersome bureaucracy and make trading food with our biggest market both cheaper and easier.” Her comments reflect a growing optimism among government officials that the SPS deal could deliver tangible benefits to British consumers and businesses alike.

One immediate effect is the expected stabilization—or even reduction—of meat prices. Prior to the suspension, there were widespread concerns that new checks would drive up costs at the checkout. Now, with the checks cancelled, the government hopes to avoid those price hikes. However, the UK’s ban on live animal exports, introduced as part of its post-Brexit regulatory freedoms, will remain firmly in place.

Not all checks are disappearing, though. Some live animals imported from the EU will continue to be inspected at their destination, based on risk factors. Meanwhile, certain goods arriving from Ireland will still require paperwork in the form of pre-notification and certification. The government has also pledged to continue risk-based surveillance of imports and to review the suspension of checks on an ongoing basis to ensure that Britain’s biosecurity remains intact.

For many in the food industry and among British exporters, the move is a welcome relief after years of uncertainty and upheaval. When Britain exited the EU’s single market in 2021, the EU immediately enforced its own rules, creating port delays and prompting some British exporters to stop selling to the bloc altogether. In contrast, Britain was slower to introduce its own post-Brexit border arrangements, leading to repeated delays and confusion. It wasn’t until January 2024 that the UK began phasing in its new rules, and even then, the process has been far from smooth.

According to Reuters, the UK government has not provided a specific timeline for when the SPS deal will be fully implemented. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed that details are still being negotiated, leaving British traders in a holding pattern for now. In the meantime, they must continue to comply with the BTOM, which includes existing biosecurity checks.

The political context surrounding the SPS deal is as complex as the technical details. The agreement requires the UK to align its agrifood regulations with those of the EU—a process known as “dynamic alignment.” This has sparked debate among politicians and commentators, particularly those who championed Brexit as a means of reclaiming British sovereignty. Some critics argue that dynamic alignment could undermine the UK’s ability to set its own rules, while supporters counter that the benefits to trade and the economy outweigh those concerns.

There are also suggestions that the EU may seek concessions in other areas as part of the negotiations. For example, some reports indicate that Brussels could demand a more expansive youth mobility scheme, which the UK is currently resisting, in exchange for a rapid agreement on the SPS deal. Such trade-offs are not uncommon in the world of international negotiations, but they add another layer of complexity to an already intricate process.

The SPS deal was the centerpiece of the economic offer in Starmer’s reset agreement with the EU in May. Senior ministers, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, view closer ties with the continent as a key part of their strategy to boost growth and end what they describe as a spiral of ever-higher taxes needed to fill budget gaps. The government is planning to introduce legislation to write the SPS arrangements into law in the coming months, with the expectation that it will be on the statute books before the next King’s Speech, anticipated in early 2026.

Timing is a crucial factor. The UK wants the SPS agreement to come into force well before the next general election, due in 2029, so that voters can experience the benefits of cheaper and more widely available EU produce. Ministers hope that the economic impact will be felt at the checkout and in business operations, giving the government a tangible success to point to as it seeks re-election.

Despite the optimism, the government remains cautious. Officials have stated that the suspension of checks will be kept under review to ensure that biosecurity is not compromised. The balance between facilitating trade and protecting the country’s agriculture and food supply is a delicate one, and ministers are keenly aware of the potential risks.

As the details of the SPS deal continue to be negotiated, both businesses and consumers are watching closely. The stakes are high—not just for the price of meat or the ease of importing a crate of apples, but for the broader relationship between the UK and its largest trading partner. The outcome of these negotiations will shape the contours of British trade and regulation for years to come, making this a story with far-reaching implications.

With the government’s latest move, the path to a smoother, less bureaucratic border appears open, but the journey is far from over. As ministers, officials, and negotiators continue to thrash out the fine print, the country waits to see whether this reset will deliver on its promise of cheaper food, easier trade, and a new era in UK-EU relations.