To cut red tape and costs for importing and exporting with the EU \u00a0the UK will align with EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) legislation; \u00a0food and feed safety;\u00a0 and broader nutrition-related areas such as food supplements, fortified foods, food for specific groups, nutrition and health claims, and nutrition labelling; wider agrifood rules related to food labelling, organics, key agri-food marketing standards and compositional standards; as well as regulation of pesticides and biocides.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We currently view the following listed EU legislation \u2014 and any related EU rules made under the listed EU legislation \u2014 as being in scope of the agreement. Businesses may need to take action to comply with these requirements. We expect that in many cases, these rules will replace and not add to current rules.<\/p>\n
Since leaving the EU, there has been some divergence from EU legislation. However, in many cases that divergence has been minor or minimal.\u00a0 We expect UK legislation will simply align with the EU legislation below. This will of course necessitate varying levels of change across sectors, with some affected more than others.<\/p>\n
We have provided a summary of what this means for particular sectors. We will keep you updated if this changes. We will update this list once negotiations have concluded and will follow this with detailed, practical guidance on what actions businesses will need to take.<\/p>\n
The EU has accepted there will need to be\u00a0areas where the UK will retain\u00a0its own rules, as set out in the May 2025 Common Understanding<\/a>. Details of\u00a0these are subject to negotiation<\/a>. We have been clear about the importance of\u00a0being able to set high animal welfare standards, support public health, and support the use of\u00a0new and innovative technologies.<\/p>\n We are separately considering what targeted transitional arrangements may be required for those sectors that will find it most challenging to implement the necessary changes ahead of the agreement entering into force.<\/p>\n General Food Law & Consumer Information<\/p>\n Food manufacturing, retail, and import\/export operations will see changes resulting from alignment with EU food law. This alignment will update areas such as UK requirements on risk analysis, traceability and consumer information.<\/p>\n Legislation included:<\/p>\n Regulation 178\/2002 \u2013 General food law Food Hygiene & Safety of Foods of Animal Origin<\/p>\n Alignment with EU hygiene rules will apply to slaughterhouses, meat processors, and dairy producers. Rules on feed hygiene remain closely aligned with the EU, ensuring that feed producers, transporters and farmers work to the same high standards for cleanliness, record\u2011keeping and safety. The agreement will update areas such as production standards, removing the need for certain border checks and supporting smoother movement of goods while maintaining high production and hygiene standards, including the level of hygiene checks required at the border.<\/p>\n Legislation included:<\/p>\n Regulation 853\/2004 \u2013 Hygiene rules for food of animal origin Food Additives, Flavourings, Supplements & Novel Foods<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules will affect ingredient suppliers, specialist manufacturers such as infant formula producers, testing laboratories, retailers and relevant industry bodies. It will update areas such as requirements on additives, enzymes, contaminants, novel foods and marketing.<\/p>\n Legislation included:<\/p>\n Regulation 1331\/2008 \u2013 Common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings Marketing Standards for Specific Foods<\/p>\n Producers and suppliers of the products covered by these rules will need to adapt areas such as their product formulations, processing methods and\/or labelling to meet EU requirements. In some areas, such as on coffee and sugar composition and labelling standards, UK rules have not significantly diverged from EU rules.<\/p>\n Legislation included:<\/p>\n Directive 1999\/4\/EC \u2013 Coffee extracts & chicory extracts Food Contact Materials<\/p>\n Most rules on food contact materials are broadly aligned with EU rules, though there are some changes including on individual permitted materials and authorisation processes for some plastics. Alignment with EU rules on plastics, ceramics and other food\u00a0contact materials will affect packaging manufacturers, food processors,\u00a0laboratories, retailers and the NHS.\u00a0It will update areas such as requirements for food contact safety, testing standards and permitted materials.<\/p>\n Legislation included:<\/p>\n Directives 82\/711\/EEC & 85\/572\/EEC – Plastics testing Other Food\u2011Related Measures<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules on irradiation, extraction solvents, mineral waters, organic production, lot\u00a0marking\u00a0and bovine identification will affect bottled water producers, organic certification bodies, irradiation facilities and operators of livestock identity systems. It will update areas such as compliance requirements for processing treatments, solvent use, product classification, certification processes and animal identification standards.<\/p>\n Legislation included:<\/p>\n Directives 1999\/2\/EC & 1999\/3\/EC \u2013 Ionising radiation directives Feed Products and Hygiene<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules will affect feed mills, compound feed manufacturers, farmers and veterinary nutrition bodies. It will update areas such as some compositional and hygiene requirements for feed.<\/p>\n Legislation included:<\/p>\n Regulation 767\/2009 \u2013 Placing on the market & use of feed Genetically Modified Organisms<\/p>\n Alignment with EU Genetically Modified Organisms controls will affect biotech companies, seed suppliers, feed manufacturers, non-governmental organisations and consumer advocacy groups. It will update areas such as requirements for authorisation, traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and products derived from them. These rules keep the UK and EU approaches closely aligned, giving operators clearer and more predictable requirements when working with genetically modified organisms.<\/p>\n Legislation Included:<\/p>\n Regulation 1829\/2003 \u2013 Genetically Modified food & feed authorisation Animal health<\/p>\n Alignment with EU animal health frameworks will affect farmers, breeders, traders, veterinary authorities, public health agencies, the equine sector, pet owners, food processors and processors handling by-products. It will update areas such as surveillance, identification, registration, and movement systems of live animals, germinal products and animal by-products.<\/p>\n Legislation Included:<\/p>\n Regulation 2016\/429 \u2013 Animal Health Law Animal Breeding<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules will affect breeding organisations, pedigree breed societies, importers and exporters of pedigree breeding animals, genetic services companies, breeders of competition equidae, competition organisers, transporters and veterinary authorities. It will affect areas such as the recording, verification and certification of breeding animals and germinal products, as well as identification, movement requirements and conditions governing participation in competitions for equidae.<\/p>\n Legislation Included:<\/p>\n Regulation 2016\/1012 – Zootechnical conditions for animal breeding and trade Animal Welfare Transport and Slaughter<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules will affect hauliers, abattoirs, welfare charities and enforcement inspectors. It will update areas such as transport, handling and welfare requirements.<\/p>\n Legislation Included:<\/p>\n Regulation 1255\/97 \u2013 Criteria for staging points (transport) Plant Health<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules will affect horticultural businesses, nurseries, importers and plant health inspectors. It will update areas such as the replacement of UK Plant Passports with EU Plant Passports enabling removal of checks at the GB-EU border and for movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. To safeguard biosecurity, it will also re-introduce a notification system for imports of high-risk plants from the EU, similar to the regime in place before the UK left the EU.<\/p>\n Legislation Included:<\/p>\n Regulation 2016\/2031 – Protective measures against plant pests<\/p>\n Marketing of Plant Reproductive Material \u00a0<\/p>\n Alignment with EU-aligned plant variety rights and variety listings will affect seed companies, farmers, forestry nurseries and horticultural suppliers. It will update areas such as quality and reliability requirements for seeds and propagating material, supporting UK plant breeders and growers through easier access to UK and EU markets.<\/p>\n Legislation Included:<\/p>\n Directive 66\/401\/EEC \u2013 Fodder plant seed marketing Official Controls<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules will affect port authorities, port health authorities, environmental health officers and regulated agrifood businesses, as well as importers and exporters of SPS goods. It will update areas such as official controls with the removal of certain checks at the GB-EU border and for movements from GB to NI, making trade easier. Checks on imports from the rest of the world will remain and UK check rates will align with those applied by the EU.<\/p>\n Legislation included:<\/p>\n Regulation (EU) 2017\/625 – Official controls across food, feed, plant & animal law<\/p>\n Plant Protection Products<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules on active substances authorisation, residue levels and the placing on the market of plant protection products (PPPs) \u2013 commonly referred to as pesticides – will have implications for farmers and growers, agrochemical manufacturers, distributors, food retailers and other businesses using PPPs. It will require updates to approval processes for plant protection products, compliance with EU residue limits in food and adherence to EU rules governing the marketing and use of PPPs.<\/p>\n Legislation Included:<\/p>\n Regulation 1107\/2009 \u2013 Authorisation of plant protection products Biocidal Products Regulation<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules on biocidal active substance approval and biocidal product authorisation will have implications for biocidal active substance and product manufacturers, as well as distributors and users of biocidal products.\u00a0 It will require adherence to EU requirements governing the making available and use of biocidal products. These changes may affect product authorisation, labelling, supply chains and the operational practices of organisations across the biocides sector.<\/p>\n Legislation Included:<\/p>\n Regulation 528\/2012 \u2013 Making available on the market and use of biocidal products<\/p>\n Sanitary and Phytosanitary \u2013 Other<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules on certain hormonal and similar substances including controls on the use of bovine somatotrophin (BST), will affect cattle and pig farmers, veterinary service providers and meat processors and will require updates to controls on the use of hormonal substances in livestock production and related veterinary requirements.<\/p>\n Legislation Included:<\/p>\n Directive 96\/22\/EC – Prohibition of hormonal\/thyrostatic substances in stock farming Veterinary Medicines \u2013 Residue Limits and trade-relevant aspects of antimicrobial resistance<\/p>\n Rules governing pharmacologically active substances used in veterinary medicines remain closely aligned with EU legislation so businesses involved in the veterinary medicines supply chain can continue to operate to the same residue limits and safety assessments as now.<\/p>\n Alignment with EU rules on residue limits and veterinary medicines will affect pharmaceutical companies, livestock producers, regulators and food safety authorities.\u00a0<\/p>\n Legislation Included:<\/p>\n Regulation 470\/2009 – maximum residue limits for veterinary medicines
\n Regulation 1169\/2011 \u2013 Food information to consumers
\n Regulation 1924\/2006 \u2013 Nutrition & health claims<\/p>\n
\n Regulation 852\/2004 \u2013 General food hygiene
\n Directive 89\/108\/EEC \u2013 Quick\u2011frozen foodstuffs<\/p>\n
\n Regulation 1332\/2008 \u2013 Food enzymes
\n Regulation 1333\/2008 \u2013 Food additives
\n Regulation 1334\/2008 \u2013 Flavourings
\n Directive 2002\/46\/EC \u2013 Food supplements
\n Regulation 1925\/2006 \u2013 Addition of vitamins & minerals
\n Regulation 2065\/2003 \u2013 Smoke flavourings
\n Regulation 315\/93 \u2013 Contaminants
\n Regulation 2015\/2283 \u2013 Novel foods
\n Regulation 609\/2013 \u2013 Foods for specific groups<\/p>\n
\n Directive 2000\/36\/EC \u2013 Cocoa & chocolate products
\n Council Directive 2001\/110\/EC \u2013 Honey
\n Council Directive 2001\/111\/EC \u2013 Sugars intended for human consumption
\n Council Directive 2001\/112\/EC \u2013 Fruit juices & certain similar products
\n Council Directive 2001\/113\/EC \u2013 Fruit jams, jellies & marmalades; sweetened chestnut pur\u00e9e
\n Council Directive 2001\/114\/EC \u2013 Certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk (dehydrated\/evaporated milk)
\n Regulation 1308\/2013 \u2013 CMO Regulation (Marketing standards elements)<\/p>\n
\n Directive 78\/142\/EEC \u2013 Vinyl chloride monomer
\n Regulation 1935\/2004 \u2013 Food contact materials
\n Directive 84\/500\/EEC \u2013 Ceramic articles<\/p>\n
\n Directive 2009\/32\/EC \u2013 Extraction solvents
\n Directive 2009\/54\/EC \u2013 Natural mineral waters
\n Regulation 2018\/848 \u2013 Organic regulation
\n Regulation (Euratom) 2016\/52 \u2013 Radioactive contamination limits
\n Directive 2011\/91\/EU \u2013 Food lot identification
\n Regulation 1760\/2000 \u2013 Beef labelling & bovine ID<\/p>\n
\n Directive 2002\/32\/EC \u2013 Undesirable substances in feed
\n Regulation 1831\/2003 \u2013 Additives for use in animal nutrition
\n Regulation 183\/2005 \u2013 Feed hygiene requirements
\n Regulation 2023\/2419 \u2013 Organic pet food labelling<\/p>\n
\n Regulation 1830\/2003 \u2013 Genetically Modified Organism traceability & labelling
\n Regulation 1946\/2003 \u2013 Transboundary Genetically Modified Organism movements
\n Directive 2001\/18\/EC (Part C) \u2013 Deliberate release of Genetically Modified Organisms<\/p>\n
\n Regulation 1069\/2009 \u2013 Animal byproducts & derived products
\n Regulation 999\/2001 \u2013 TSE prevention & control
\n Regulation 2160\/2003 \u2013 Control of salmonella & other zoonoses
\n Directive 2003\/99\/EC \u2013 Monitoring of zoonoses & zoonotic agents<\/p>\n
\n Directive 90\/428\/EEC – Trade in equidae for competitions<\/p>\n
\n Regulation 1099\/2009 \u2013 Welfare at time of killing
\n Regulation 1\/2005 \u2013 Animal welfare during transport<\/p>\n
\n Directive 66\/402\/EEC \u2013 Cereal seed marketing
\n Directive 68\/193\/EEC \u2013 Vine propagation material
\n Directive 98\/56\/EC \u2013 Ornamental plant propagating material
\n Directive 1999\/105\/EC \u2013 Forest reproductive material marketing
\n Directive 2002\/53\/EC \u2013 Agricultural plant varieties \u2013 common catalogue
\n Directive 2002\/54\/EC \u2013 Beet seed marketing
\n Directive 2002\/55\/EC \u2013 Vegetable seed marketing
\n Directive 2002\/56\/EC \u2013 Seed potatoes marketing
\n Directive 2002\/57\/EC \u2013 Oil & fibre plant seed marketing
\n Directive 2008\/72\/EC \u2013 Vegetable propagating\/planting material
\n Directive 2008\/90\/EC \u2013 Fruit plant propagating material
\n Regulation 2100\/94 \u2013 Plant variety rights<\/p>\n
\n Regulation 396\/2005 \u2013 Maximum pesticide residue levels<\/p>\n
\n Council Decision 1999\/879\/EC \u2013 Placing on the market and administration of bovine somatotrophin (BST)<\/p>\n
\n Regulation 2019\/6 – trade-relevant rules on antimicrobial resistance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"To cut red tape and costs for importing and exporting with the EU \u00a0the UK will align with…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":294292,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[59,57,58,50,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-465685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-kingdom","tag-gb","tag-great-britain","tag-greatbritain","tag-news","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=465685"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465685\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=465685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=465685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=465685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}