UK, EU to reduce meat trade checks

UK – The United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed to scale back border inspections on agricultural goods, with meat exports set to benefit directly from the move.

The new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, made public recently, is part of wider efforts to improve post-Brexit trade relations between London and Brussels.

Under the arrangement, meat exports from the UK to EU countries will undergo fewer checks and require less documentation, easing some of the trade delays experienced since Brexit came into effect.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office confirmed that the new rules will remain in place indefinitely, which is expected to provide long-term stability for meat processors and exporters.

An EU official also stated that the bloc has agreed to reduce inspections on meat and other agricultural products on a permanent basis.

As a result, border traffic at busy checkpoints such as Dover and Calais is expected to move more smoothly, reducing holdups that have been especially challenging for perishable goods like meat.

British government estimates suggest the SPS agreement, combined with a separate emissions trading alignment, could add around US$12 billion (US$12bn) to the UK economy by the year 2040.

However, the start date for implementing these new measures has not yet been confirmed, as technical discussions between the two sides are still ongoing.

Cranswick closes farm following release of undercover footage

In a separate development affecting the UK meat sector, Cranswick plc has temporarily shut down operations at Northmoor Farm after an undercover investigation exposed concerning practices.

The footage, released by the activist group Animal Justice Project, reportedly shows workers using illegal methods to kill piglets, including what the group describes as “piglet thumping.”

The video was allegedly recorded over several weeks in 2024 by an undercover investigator at Elsham Linc Ltd, a pig farming company owned by Cranswick.

The campaign group claimed that the footage also shows animals being left untreated, unsuccessful attempts at euthanasia, and unhygienic conditions inside the facility.

Cranswick, one of the UK’s leading pork suppliers, provides meat to major retailers such as Tesco, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s.

Following the release of the footage, all three supermarkets have reportedly suspended sourcing pork from the farm.

Animal Justice Project said this action came after the retailers reviewed the video, which the group claims shows violations of UK animal welfare laws.

A formal complaint has since been submitted to Trading Standards by barrister Ayesha Smart, citing breaches of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 and related consumer protection laws.

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