There’s a negotiation underway right now that could change the economics of British farming more significantly than anything since Brexit. But oddly enough, most people working at farm level have barely heard of it.
The UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement has been in motion since May 2025, when both sides agreed in principle to pursue a common trading area for agrifood products. The target implementation date is mid-2027. Whether that deadline holds or not, there could be serious implications for farmers, food businesses, agronomists and anyone in the supply chain.
Why the SPS agreement has come about
Since leaving the EU, British exporters have faced a significant increase in paperwork and border costs. Export Health Certificates alone can cost up to £200 per consignment. The proposed agreement, published by the UK government in March 2026, would remove most of that friction.
Routine border checks on dairy, fish, eggs and red meat imports would go. For businesses exporting to Europe, that is genuinely good news.
As Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds explained at the NFU Conference in February: "Exports of agrifood to the EU have dropped by a fifth in the five years since Brexit. The SPS agreement will change that. It will make trade faster, easier and cheaper."
But rules could change quickly
Dynamic alignment is the phrase at the heart of the concern. In practice, it means the UK wouldn’t just reduce border friction. It would commit to keeping its rules aligned with EU legislation going forward. For crop protection in particular, this is a real issue.
A report commissioned by CropLife UK and conducted by The Andersons Centre warns that immediate alignment on pesticides could cost the arable, horticulture and sugar sectors between £500 million and £810 million in the first year, without a managed transition. Additionally, wheat production could fall by as much as 16%.
"This report shows how damaging a badly done deal could be," warned CropLife UK CEO Dave Bench. That sentiment was echoed by NFU President Tom Bradshaw. "Farm businesses need a sufficient transition period to avoid crippling impacts on homegrown food production,” he explained. “If this agreement is to work for the British farming sector, it cannot be bound by an impractical deadline."
The next few months will be decisive
The government's Call for Information closes on 23 April 2026. If you trade with the EU or grow crops, now is the time to engage through your trade body. Detailed guidance for businesses is expected in May 2026.
This is a story worth following closely. Whether the deal reduces friction and opens up growth, or lands too fast and squeezes farm incomes, it will shape hiring decisions and career opportunities across the sector for years to come.
