19/11/2025
EFRA has indicated that biosecurity threats at Britain’s borders cannot wait for Government to conclude SPS negotiations.
The Government has acknowledged many of the Committee’s concerns about the scale of illegal meat imports to the UK, but has said that many of the Committee’s core recommendations to tackle the issue will only be considered once the SPS negotiations with the EU have been concluded and implemented.
Recently BCVA, with colleagues BVA, raised serious concerns over key aspects of the proposed Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement between the UK and the EU, producing a policy statement to highlight the risks - encouraging support from across the sector to ensure these concerns are effectively represented.
As advocates for the highest standards in animal health, welfare, and public safety, BCVA recognises the importance of maintaining a collaborative trading relationship with our European partners. We also understand that we have limited ability to influence the actual implementation of an SPS Agreement, given it is predicated on dynamic alignment of rules and the creation of a Common SPS Area.
However, there are areas where negotiation is possible, and BCVA will support BVA in lobbying on these and other points.
These points include, biosecurity risks, veterinary workforce capacity, loss of regulatory autonomy, and transparency of stakeholder engagement.
BCVA supports a stable and cooperative relationship with the EU. However, this must not come at the expense of:
Animal health and welfare
The UK’s ability to make independent, evidence-based veterinary decisions
The integrity of national biosecurity, including control of SPS measures
We therefore urge the UK Government to engage fully with the veterinary profession during these negotiations and protect public confidence in animal health and food safety.
It is vital that the UK retains the capacity to develop and enforce its own veterinary health and welfare policies.
Full news item on our website.