The food sector has urged caution amid the possibility that the European Union and the United Kingdom may move towards a new regulatory framework following Brexit.
The debate comes at a time when Brussels and London are exploring ways to reduce trade frictions, particularly in sensitive areas such as plant health, food safety and the use of crop protection products. A potential regulatory rapprochement could facilitate bilateral trade, but would also require renewed adjustments to production and control systems in the United Kingdom.
Industry representatives warn that the immediate application of new rules could create operational difficulties, increase costs and undermine the competitiveness of certain crops and processed products. In this context, professional organisations stress the need for a clear roadmap, with defined timelines, allowing farmers, processors and logistics operators to adapt gradually to any changes.
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One of the most sensitive issues is the possible revision of authorisation criteria for plant protection and veterinary products. Regulatory divergence between the two sides has been one of the main sources of trade friction since Brexit. A rapid alignment, without sufficient time for adaptation, could render some tools currently available to UK producers unusable, directly affecting yields and production costs.
The food sector insists that regulatory stability is essential to ensure supply, maintain market confidence and avoid unnecessary tensions along the supply chain. For this reason, it is calling for any agreement to include transitional and accompanying measures that minimise risks and allow for an orderly transition.
As political discussions continue, companies are closely monitoring the evolution of the dialogue between the EU and the United Kingdom, aware that the outcome will shape the future of agri-food trade relations between the two blocs in the years ahead.
