Potential draft deal could scrap Brexit red tape on agri-food trade
A draft deal has reportedly been reached between the European Union and the UK which if implemented would remove post-Brexit red tape around food and agri trade.
The potential deal on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreements for plant and animal products is expected to be announced at a major summit between the EU and UK on November 20.
It is understood that the text of the draft deal is being issued to EU member states for consideration.
If the deal is agreed, food businesses in both Ireland and the UK could benefit from reduced administrative burden, fewer certification requirements and more efficient movement of goods.
However, the extent of these benefits will depend on the final scope of the agreement and any sector-specific exceptions that may be included.
The UK remains by far the most important market for Irish agri-food exports and was valued at €8.1 billion in 2025.
Brexit
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon told Agriland that a comprehensive SPS agreement would greatly reduce the administrative burden on Irish agri-food businesses exporting to the UK.
“Potentially a closer alignment and a deal on SPS agreements between Europe and Britain is only in Ireland’s interest and in Ireland’s favour because they're such a key trading partner for us in the UK.
"Brexit put a lot of barriers in the way. My department issues 80,000 health certificates a year to Irish food companies who are exporting to the UK.
"Depending on the level of the SPS agreement of what would be agreed you could see maybe the eradication of the vast majority of them so that would be a huge lifting of red tape administration demands on Irish food businesses and would make an awful lot of sense.
"There also will be changes then to [import] requirements of what we have in our ports and beyond.
"We still have very high standards around food safety and all the rest, but it would be a very significant change and a very positive change," he said.
Minister Heydon said that achieving an SPS agreement during Ireland's presidency of the EU is something he is "very hopeful about".
"We're making very good progress there and I hope we have a positive outcome in the coming weeks at the summit," he said.
While Ireland does not negotiate directly with the UK on any agreement, Minister Heydon said the Irish position has been outlined at EU level.
"We have made it very clear to our colleagues in the EU, as well as my bilateral engagements with the UK, that as close a dynamic alignment as possible really is something that we're very much in favour of.
"So I would be encouraging, as my colleagues are in government, the EU to positively embrace the opportunity here for a closer alignment with the UK, because as a trading nation they are a key trading partner there's a lot of benefits in that for us here for our food companies and our drinks companies and for our farmers who produce that product," he said.
