The United Kingdom has secured a trade deal with the European Union that will impact the food sector.

The UK government said a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement will make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing the red tape for businesses that led to lorry queues at the border.

The creation of an UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Zone will mean removal of Export Health Certificates, saving businesses up to £200 per consignment each time goods are sent.

Routine border checks on some food products would be removed. Goods such as dairy, fish, eggs and red meat are currently subject to 100 percent paperwork checks and up to 30 percent physical controls. Checks on certain imports from the EU for products such as milk, dairy, eggs, red meat, plants for planting, and potatoes, will also be stopped.

The EU is the UK’s largest trading partner. After the 21 percent drop in exports and 7 percent decline in imports from 2018 to 2024, the UK will be able to sell various products, such as burgers and fresh sausages and certain shellfish from domestic waters, to the EU again.

The scope covers sanitary, phytosanitary, food safety, and general consumer protection rules related to the production, distribution and consumption of food products, the regulation of live animals, and pesticides, and the rules on organics.

Moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland should become easier, reducing the need for paperwork and checks because of the removal of SPS and other requirements.