New UK-EU trade agreement brings some positives for Scottish food producers - but key concerns remain, says Scottish Land & Estates

Press Release

The new UK-EU trade agreement can provide positive benefits for Scottish farming and food production – but concerns over biosecurity, farming standards and subsidy disparity remain.

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, made the comments following the announcement earlier today, which includes a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement designed to reduce post-Brexit trade friction, especially in food and drink exports. Routine checks on many animal and plant products will also be eased, including those moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The new agreement also includes provisions for closer cooperation on emissions trading, which could provide new market opportunities for UK-based carbon credits.

Eleanor Kay, Senior Policy Advisor (Agriculture & Climate Change) at Scottish Land & Estates, said:

“The Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement, which creates an EU-UK SPS Zone, is a notable step forward for businesses involved in food production and export. Reducing regulatory barriers and creating a permanent agreement will be welcomed by many in the sector. The removal of Export Health Certificates and many other checks will help reduce costs and delays, which have been particularly challenging for perishable goods. That said, it’s important to ensure that these changes do not compromise our biosecurity. The UK’s island status is an advantage we should seek to maintain, particularly given the presence of livestock diseases on the continent. The UK’s ability to negotiate a limited number of exceptions to the rules should deliver this protection.

“We recognise the benefits of improving trade flows, but there are ongoing questions around the alignment of standards. The UK will have a seat at the table on regulation development in SPS areas but will have no veto. We would like to see a clear process for how standards are scrutinised and in that context, input from the Trade and Agriculture Commission will be important—not only for this agreement but also for those being negotiated with other partners, such as the United States and India.

“It’s also worth noting that while this agreement may open up easier access to EU markets for UK producers, EU exporters have not faced the same level of disruption in recent years, as the UK did not fully implement incoming border checks. That asymmetry has affected market confidence and competitiveness. In addition, the different subsidy regimes between the UK and the EU, particularly the operation of the Common Agricultural Policy, continue to raise questions about the relative position of UK farmers. These are areas we hope will be considered seriously as part of the ongoing Farm Profitability Review.”

SLE also noted that the agreement introduces uncertainty around the future of gene editing legislation in England, as well as its potential implications for other yet-to-be-defined legislative developments.