SPS alignment could cost UK farms £810m, report warns 

The cost, revealed in a report by The Andersons Centre, commissioned by CropLifeUK, is estimated to be between £500 million and £810 million.

The report examines the impact of aligning UK PPP rules with existing EU decisions under a proposed UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, which the Government has indicated could take effect from June 2027. 

Using a worst-case “cliff-edge” alignment scenario, the analysis shows that the loss of key crop protection tools, including newer products approved in Great Britain, would reduce yields, alter cropping patterns and increase production costs. 

Indicative impacts include wheat production falling by 9–16%, potatoes by 4–6% and apples by 3–7%. 

Since January 2021, and following rigorous sustainability and safety testing, four new plant protection products have been approved in Great Britain that are not yet available in the EU.

Tipping point

CropLife UK chief executive Dave Bench commented: “Since leaving the EU, the GB regulatory regime has delivered innovative new chemistry faster than the EU, benefitting GB growers. But these benefits could be thrown away if the Government does not negotiate a good SPS deal.”

The impact of a cliff-edge scenario could be devastating for British growers, he added. 

“At a time of increasing pressure on farm profitability, this could prove a tipping point for many farmers and growers. While we welcome the Government’s commitment to reducing the price of food for consumers, it is difficult to see how reducing domestic crop yields could help achieve that aim.” 

The Common Understanding Agreement, agreed in May 2025, does not specify how existing regulatory divergence should be managed. The report distinguishes this issue as “cliff-edge alignment”, separate from future regulatory changes under “dynamic alignment”. 

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Arable sector already under pressure

NFU said it is critical that there is a sensible, phased transitional approach to alignment with the EU as part of the future SPS agreement.

NFU Crops Board chair Jamie Burrows noted that the arable sector is already under serious pressure after one of the worst harvests in a generation and years of cereal prices being far below the cost of production. 

“The prospect of losing access to such key crop protection tools, and hundreds of millions of pounds with them through loss of yield, would be catastrophic. 

“Growing food takes long-term planning. Many growers will be making planting decisions now which will be impacted if complete alignment is implemented in June 2027 – there simply isn’t enough time to mitigate impacts or change practices.”

He urged the UK government to prioritise the future of the thousands of arable and horticulture businesses that use these critical products to produce the nation’s food.

Sensible, phased approach needed

The NFU has been making the case for British farmers to continue to have access to GB-approved actives until the EU rules are next reviewed, when the UK can input into the EU regulatory process. 

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “This report confirms what we’ve already been outlining at the highest level within government – that there are significant risks to farm businesses and British food production which need to be very carefully managed within SPS negotiations. 

“An SPS deal is about removing friction and unlocking trade with our largest trading partner, but we have to get it right. We are grateful for the open dialogue we’ve had with government so far.”

Implementing appropriate transition periods is vital, he added. 

“For plant protection products, the best option would be for British farmers to retain access to GB-approved plant protection products until the EU rules are next reviewed, rather than being pushed towards a cliff-edge because of an arbitrary deadline.

“I hope the government will use this opportunity to reassure growers that, in resetting the UK’s relationship with the EU, it will be negotiating hard to prevent the kinds of outcomes laid out in this report.”

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