Logistics UK: UK-EU fresh food deal is a “common sense” solution set to deliver £5 billion trade boost every year

Thursday 28 May 2026

Today’s announcement that the UK and EU intend to scrap trade barriers affecting fresh food movements from mid-2027 has been welcomed by business group Logistics UK. According to Ben Fletcher, the organisation’s Chief Executive, the move has the potential to boost the UK’s economy by £5.1 billion¹ annually:

“Our members have invested significant amounts of time and money to smooth the movement of fresh food across the UK’s borders, but trade friction has persisted as a result of the checks introduced after our country’s departure from the EU and so we welcome the negotiation of this agreement by His Majesty’s Government,” he says. “Any border delays hinder our industry’s ability to keep the UK’s businesses trading with European customers and so today’s announcement is a common sense solution that acknowledges the challenges that we have faced since Brexit.”

Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks were introduced as a result of the UK’s deal with the EU to prove exported goods meet EU standards, and then later introduced by the UK on imports from the EU. Under the deal being negotiated, products moved from Great Britain into Northern Ireland would also no longer require additional certification, specialist labelling or routine inspections.

“Our industry’s aim is always to deliver for our customers as swiftly and efficiently as possible. Today’s announcement will increase confidence over the removal of significant hurdles of cost and delays that have hamstrung our industry’s ability to support the UK’s fresh food producers to sell to their European customers, support UK jobs and help to drive growth nationwide. We will now work with the government to ensure that the new regime can be implemented as seamlessly as possible by mid-2027.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk

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¹ British businesses cheer UK-EU deal to support food trade and profits