Overview

• Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said the government aims to finalise a food-and-drink SPS agreement with the EU within 18 months ahead of talks later this year.
• A June stop-gap suspended planned checks and fees on medium-risk EU produce such as tomatoes, grapes and peppers, with the exemption running until 31 January 2027.
• Ministers in August also cancelled new checks on live animal imports from the EU and on animal and plant goods entering from Ireland.
• Defra will publish research setting out the costs British exporters face under current rules to support the case for alignment and lower supermarket prices.
• Nigel Farage vowed to undo the agrifood deal by legislation, while Conservatives including Priti Patel accused Labour of surrendering sovereignty and risking long-term fishing concessions.