Agricultural Products: UK Trade With EU
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an estimate of the cost to British businesses of not securing a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement with the European Union.
Answered by Dame Angela Eagle
Defra commissioned research highlights significant non-tariff measure costs for exporting GB agri-food and plant products to the EU:
- Export Health Certificates cost up to £200 for agri-food goods.
- Phytosanitary Certificates cost approximately £25 alongside inspection fees of at least £127.60.
- Organic Certificates of Inspection, required for the export of organic lamb and cheese, cost on average £35.
- Identity check fees on meat and dairy exports adds £31 per load on average.
- For beef and salmon, queueing times for checks can add costs of up to £149 per load.
- Additional driver charges, paid to hauliers for border-related friction, typically £200 per shipment.
- Sampling can add approximately £1,200 to a cheese load, £1,400 to a salmon shipment, £440 to a load of apples, and £1,200 to a beef load.
The SPS Agreement will significantly reduce these costs. The details of the Agreement are subject to negotiation.
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