UK and EU finalise deal to remove Brexit checks on food
Agreement to ease import and export rules on food and animal products expected to take effect in early 2028.
At a glance
- UK and EU completed agreement to remove Brexit checks on food and animal product imports and exports
- Deal expected to take effect in first quarter of 2028
- British food exports to Europe have fallen by a third since 2019
- Smaller UK retailers will be able to purchase smaller batches of imported goods
The UK and EU have completed a deal to remove Brexit checks on imports and exports of food and animal products, including sausages, cheese, leather goods and flowers. The agreement is expected to come into force in the first quarter of 2028.
British food exporters have seen trade with Europe decline by a third since 2019. The deal will also allow smaller UK retailers such as delicatessens to resume purchasing smaller batches of cheese and wines, which became unaffordable due to Brexit checks introduced in 2022.
Why it matters
The deal addresses trade disruptions caused by Brexit checks introduced in 2022 that significantly reduced UK-EU food trade and increased costs for smaller retailers.
Original reporting
- The Guardian — WorldDeal finalised to remove Brexit checks on food and animal products
- The Guardian — BusinessDeal finalised to remove Brexit checks on food and animal products
This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.
