Checks that were due to be introduced on 1 July 2025 will now be postponed until at least 31 January 2027. During this period, businesses may continue importing medium-risk fresh produce from the EU without physical checks or additional charges.
The products affected include tomatoes, grapes, plums, cherries, peaches, and peppers, among others. The measure aims to support supply chains and reduce administrative burdens for importers in the short term.
The move follows the UK’s recent agreement with the EU on a broader trade and cooperation package, which includes a permanent SPS arrangement. Announced on 19 May, the deal is intended to simplify food trade by reducing routine checks and aligning rules on plant and animal products, while maintaining the UK’s status outside the EU single market.
The SPS agreement will apply indefinitely and is designed to offer long-term regulatory certainty for businesses trading food products between the UK and EU.
Commenting on the changes, Biosecurity Minister Baroness Hayman said the easement was introduced “as a temporary measure to provide businesses time to prepare for [check] implementation, and ensure a smooth flow of essential goods across the UK border.”
According to government estimates cited during the broader deal’s announcement, the SPS reforms—along with related measures such as emissions trading alignment—could contribute nearly £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040. However, this figure depends on the successful implementation of all aspects of the agreement.
While the new SPS framework is being negotiated, traders are required to comply with existing rules under the UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). The government has also stressed that biosecurity remains a key priority. Risk-based surveillance will continue, and Defra will work alongside the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Border Control Post operators to manage potential threats.
Trade bodies have broadly welcomed the easing of SPS-related checks, while also calling for further progress on unresolved regulatory and customs issues. The Road Haulage Association and Logistics UK have highlighted the need for clarity on the Windsor Framework and have raised concerns about ongoing burdens for smaller operators and restrictions on hauliers’ access to the EU.
