UK-EU food deal to slash Northern Ireland trade checks and cut costs

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds during a meeting with businesses to discuss the Government’s new UK-EU food and drink deal, which it says will remove the vast majority of GB-NI checks.

Northern Ireland businesses moving food and drink products from Great Britain could soon see millions of pounds in extra costs wiped out under a new UK–EU agreement aimed at dramatically reducing post-Brexit trade barriers.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds visited Northern Ireland this week to promote the new UK–EU food and drink deal, which the Government says will cut red tape, remove most routine checks on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, and help lower costs for businesses and consumers alike.

The agreement is being presented as one of the biggest practical changes for Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector since the introduction of the Windsor Framework, with ministers arguing it could ease long-standing frustrations around paperwork, certification costs and delays affecting trade flows across the Irish Sea.

Millions spent on certification costs

Under the current system, many food and drink goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland require Export Health Certificates and other regulatory paperwork.

According to the Government, those certificates can cost businesses between £80 and £200 each, with overall charges over the last three years estimated at between £13 million and £32 million.

The new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement would remove the need for most of those checks and certificates for goods moving from GB to NI.

Ministers say that means:

• less paperwork for suppliers and retailers

• faster movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

• lower operating costs for businesses

• improved availability on supermarket shelves

• potential downward pressure on food prices

The Government also says the wider UK–EU agreement could boost UK GDP by up to £5.1 billion annually.

Balmoral Show visit puts spotlight on farming sector

During her visit, Reynolds attended the Balmoral Show, where she met farmers, growers, horticultural representatives and agri-food businesses expected to benefit from the changes.

The proposals are particularly significant for sectors dealing with plants, seeds, flowers and agricultural machinery, where businesses have faced additional restrictions and certification requirements since EU Exit.

The Government said the agreement would remove certification requirements for:

• plants and flowers

• seeds

• used agricultural machinery

• used forestry machinery

It also said final restrictions affecting certain tree species moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland would disappear under the new arrangements.

Officials argue that could provide major benefits for garden centres, environmental projects, rural enterprises and suppliers dependent on cross-channel trade.

Government says deal will support consumers and businesses

Speaking during the visit, Reynolds said:

“We are cutting red tape and scrapping unnecessary checks, making it easier and cheaper to keep goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”

She added:

“Northern Ireland’s food and drink businesses deserve a better deal. That means protecting the UK internal market, supporting businesses and giving families more choice, availability and value across Northern Ireland.”

Northern Ireland Office Minister Matthew Patrick also attended the Balmoral Show and met representatives from the farming and business community.

He said Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry remained hugely important to both the UK economy and national food security.

“It’s great that this deal will provide real benefits for consumers, helping to ensure availability and cut costs at a time when many are facing cost of living pressures,” he said.

Major retailers back the proposals

The Government also used the visit to engage directly with business leaders through a roundtable discussion involving members of the Confederation of British Industry.

Ministers said the talks focused on reducing bureaucracy, protecting supermarket supply chains and easing food price inflation across both Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Among those welcoming the changes was Eddie Murphy, Country Director for Marks & Spencer Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Murphy said the retailer operates more than 20 stores and works with nearly 2,000 Select Farm partners in Northern Ireland.

“This deal will remove unnecessary bureaucracy and reduce cost pressures, helping us to go further in offering Northern Irish customers the very best of M&S by speeding up the flow of goods and access to fresh produce,” he said.

Legislation now moving through Parliament

The visit comes just days after the announcement of the European Partnership Bill during the State Opening of Parliament.

The legislation is intended to create the legal framework needed to implement the agreement, with businesses potentially beginning to see the practical effects from mid-2027.

The Government stressed that the Windsor Framework itself would remain in place, preserving Northern Ireland’s unique ability to trade within both the UK internal market and the EU Single Market.

Ministers also reiterated that the arrangements are intended to safeguard commitments under the Good Friday Agreement while maintaining Northern Ireland’s dual market access position.

What Northern Ireland businesses are being told to do now

While negotiations and implementation work continue, businesses are being encouraged to begin preparing for the transition.

The Government says companies should:

• engage with relevant trade bodies and industry associations

• speak with suppliers and supply chain partners about upcoming changes

• sign up for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs updates and guidance

• monitor future implementation timelines and sector-specific advice

Officials said further detailed guidance would be issued as negotiations progress to ensure farmers, food processors, retailers, hauliers and suppliers are ready to benefit once the new arrangements take effect.

For many businesses across Northern Ireland’s farming, retail and food sectors, the success of the agreement may ultimately be judged not by political announcements, but by whether it delivers cheaper trade, fuller shelves and fewer barriers after years of post-Brexit disruption.