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What the UK–EU food trade deal would change November 4, 2026 · 4:31 · With Maya and Omar
Omar, the UK and the European Union have agreed a deal to remove many checks on food trade after Brexit.
Transcript Maya Welcome to Slow English FM. This is Economy and Work, where we explain the forces shaping jobs, businesses, and daily life in clear English. I’m Maya, and Omar is our columnist for the economy and work. Thanks for joining us. Maya Omar, the UK and the European Union have agreed a deal to remove many checks on food trade after Brexit. What has actually been agreed, and what still has to happen? Omar The deal is about food and farm trade. It is designed to remove many certificates and controls that are now required when goods move between Great Britain, the Crown Dependencies, and the EU. But it is not in force yet. The text is still being considered by EU countries, and the deal is expected to start in the first quarter of 2028. Maya You said certificates and controls. What are those, and why do they matter to a food business? Omar A certificate is an official document that shows a product meets required rules. Businesses can also face inspections and fees. A British food maker told the BBC that exporting yoghurt meant paying a vet £140 to inspect each pallet. The firm stopped exporting its yoghurt because it was losing money. Maya So even a shipment that is allowed to cross can become too costly. What could change for smaller shops and food makers? Omar The Guardian reports that smaller UK retailers, such as delicatessens, could again buy small batches of cheese and wine. The cost of checks introduced in 2022 had made those purchases impossible. For exporters, the agreement is expected to cut paperwork and costs. It could also allow some trade to resume, including fresh sausages, shellfish, and seed potatoes. Maya Why does this take until 2028 if the deal has been agreed? Omar The UK needs to bring its food standards rules into line with EU rules. This is called dynamic alignment: the UK adapts its rules as the EU’s rules change. The reports say that work is behind the delay. Britain has followed many EU rules, but it has changed some, including rules on chemicals used to protect crops. Maya And what does the change mean for Northern Ireland, where food rules after Brexit have affected trade with the rest of the UK? Omar Northern Ireland remained in the EU’s single market for goods under its Brexit arrangements. That has meant paperwork and some checks for food coming from elsewhere in the UK. The deal is expected to reduce those requirements. Retailers there are expected to no longer have to use labels that say products are “not for the EU.” Maya There is a political question too. Why do some people object to following EU rules again? Omar Reform UK’s business spokesman Richard Tice says aligning with EU rules could limit Britain’s control over its trade policy. Business groups have said common rules could mean lower costs, fewer delays, and better access to the EU market. The government says the deal could eventually bring £5.1 billion in annual benefits to the UK economy. Maya So the deal could make trade simpler, but businesses will have to wait while the UK aligns its rules. What should listeners take away? Omar The central point is that this is a future change, not a change businesses can use now. If it comes into force as expected, many food shipments should face fewer checks and documents. That could help exporters and smaller retailers, while the debate over who sets the rules will continue. Maya That’s Economy and Work on Slow English FM. Thanks for listening.
