UK, EU Advance Deal to Ease Food Export Rules

(MENAFN) The United Kingdom and European Union have reached agreement on a draft arrangement designed to eliminate post-Brexit inspections and administrative barriers affecting food and agricultural exports, ahead of a planned summit later this month.

The proposed 200-page sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement has been shared with EU member states in Brussels for review during a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, according to reports.

Additional draft documents addressing emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme allowing travel and employment were also distributed, together with a 15-page proposed joint declaration for British and EU leaders.

Considered the most substantial element of efforts to reset relations following Brexit, the SPS arrangement is expected to lift various inspection requirements and charges introduced after the UK left the EU single market.

Under the proposal, exporters would no longer need to pay for £200 (nearly $270) export health certificates or £25 phytosanitary certificates. Inspector charges, organic certification requirements, selected port fees, sampling costs and other controls on goods moving between the two sides would also be removed.

The agreement would further enable British producers to resume shipments of fresh sausages, burgers, shellfish harvested in domestic waters and seed potatoes to the EU.

The UK government expects the proposed arrangement to generate as much as £5.1 billion in economic gains each year once its benefits are fully realized.

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