Business, Freight News, Logistics


DEFRA to extend ‘no SPS checks’ rule to 2027 – updated

[ June 3, 2025   //   ]

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is to extend the easement for SPS checks on imports into Great Britain of medium-risk fruit and vegetables, due to end on 1 July , until 31 January 2027.

The easement have temporarily exempted imports from the EU and Switzerland from Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks to give businesses more time to prepare.  

 However, the UK government has recently reached a new SPS agreement with the EU, including a commitment for the UK to keep its rules in line with the EU as part of a common SPS area. This would ultimately allow removal of routine import checks on SPS goods moving between the UK and the EU and vice versa. 

Director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA), Steve Parker, said that his members, and the importers and exporters they serve, would breathe “a sigh of relief” following the decision. He commented: “BIFA has long called for more facilitated solutions in regards to how the UK trades with the EU, and finally there has been some progress on this.

“Freight forwarding and logistics businesses, which manage a significant proportion of the UK’s visible supply chains with the EU, will be especially pleased with the announcements of cooperation on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, which should cut costs, complexities and delays that disrupt trade flows.

“Simplifying border processes for businesses in Northern Ireland and supporting island of Ireland supply chains will also be welcomed and should facilitate smoother trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

 “It is now down to government to work out the most practical solutions and BIFA is ready to support any effort to achieve that.“

Parker also welcomed the announcement of closer cooperation on the Emission Trading Systems, but called on the government to ensure the most practical reporting solution is adopted in the UK.

He added: “With the EU as the UK’s largest trading partner, BIFA members will not want the work to stop here. We need to make the most of this opportunity by recognising that there has been a reset of the country’s trading relationship with the EU, and trying to future proof it.”

Logistics UK also welcomed the move, saying that it would provide relief for the sector. Head of trade and devolved policy, Nichola Mallon however urged the EU and UK government to extend a more pragmatic approach to the introduction of “Not for EU” labelling on composite products like pizza and pet food, from the same date under the Windsor Framework, given the reframed and ongoing reset in relations between both parties:

“Our members will welcome the news that checks on fruit and vegetables moving between UK and EU, and vice versa, will not be introduced this summer, given the additional bureaucracy, expense and time it would have cost.

“Traders and logistics businesses have the practical experience of moving goods across borders. They could foresee the difficulties these checks would have caused given the volumes of these perishable items that are imported from the EU every day. They are the experts on where processes can be improved, and it is vital that the government seeks their input as it discusses the technical details and then moves to implementation of a UK EU SPS Agreement

“One significant and extremely costly change that is still expected to apply from 1 July is Phase Three of “Not for EU” labelling on composite products, such as pet food, moving from GB to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. This expensive requirement will most likely be removed by the forthcoming SPS agreement and we would urge the EU and UK to take where possible a more pragmatic approach to support businesses and minimise the considerable cost burden they are facing.”

approach to support businesses and minimise the considerable cost burden they are facing.”

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