FDF issues 10 commandments for EU food deal

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has issued a high-stakes roadmap for the government as negotiations intensify over a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the European Union.

The intervention comes as new data reveals a staggering 23.4% collapse in food exports to the EU over the last five years compared to the pre-Brexit era.

While the proposed SPS deal promises to slash border red tape and eliminate burdensome health certificates, the FDF warns that the required “dynamic alignment” with over 100 EU food safety regulations carries significant financial risks.

A recent industry report suggests that aligning with EU pesticide regulations alone could cost UK businesses up to £810 million if transition periods are insufficient.

The FDF pointedly noted that Swiss businesses were granted 24 months to adapt to similar changes, whereas the UK is currently targeting a 2027 implementation—a timeline the industry fears is a “cliff-edge.”

“Getting the detail of the SPS agreement right couldn’t be more important,” said Karen Betts, chief executive of the FDF. “Early clarity on regulatory changes and ensuring our voice is heard for decisions that will impact UK businesses are non-negotiable.”

To protect the resilience of the UK supply chain, the FDF has outlined ten crucial demands for government negotiators:

1. Early communication: clear guidance on where UK and EU regulations currently diverge to allow for preparation.
2. Global supplier coordination: overseas ingredient suppliers must be warned that the UK is reverting to EU import standards to prevent supply shocks.
3. Proactive alignment: where the EU has superior frameworks — such as for innovative food ingredients — the UK should align immediately to avoid disadvantage.
4. A seat at the table: the UK must secure a voice in future EU decision-making to mitigate negative policy impacts.
5. Robust transition periods: essential for long-shelf-life products that may have been manufactured months before the new rules take effect.
6. Protected “carve-outs”: national control must be retained in specific areas to protect unique UK industries.
7. Emergency safeguards: the ability to implement national measures (eg, on pesticides) during poor harvests to ensure food security.
8. The end of “Not for EU”: early planning to capitalise on the removal of “Not for EU” labelling requirements for Northern Ireland trade.
9. Horizon scanning: active monitoring of future EU policy to shape impact before it reaches the statute books.
10. Tailored export support: practical aid to help manufacturers navigate the broader “trading puzzle” and recover lost EU market share.

The proposed deal represents a major shift in UK trade policy, trading some regulatory sovereignty for ease of market access. For the food and drink sector — the UK’s largest manufacturing industry — the stakes involve both the price on the shelf and the survival of export-heavy SMEs.

The FDF has stated it “stands ready” to work with the government to ensure the deal helps recover the billions in lost export ground while maintaining the UK’s competitive edge.