By Karim Hammam
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has agreed to align British food and drink standards with the European Union in a move designed to end post-Brexit border checks on fresh goods, according to reports. The deal, expected to be signed later this month, would allow exports of fresh sausages, burgers, shellfish and seed potatoes to resume, and restore pet passport arrangements for the first time since the UK left the bloc.
Deal to Remove Checks on Fresh Goods
The agreement addresses the most damaging consequences of Brexit for food exporters, who have faced delays and additional red tape. Full implementation of a new digital border system has been repeatedly delayed, with fresh produce often held up at the border. Around 70,000 UK businesses have stopped trading with the EU due to the bureaucracy.
Concession on EU Alignment
The deal requires the UK to dynamically align with EU rules and standards, effectively unpicking parts of Boris Johnson’s Brexit agreement. While UK regulations remain largely aligned, areas such as precision breeding of plants have diverged. Pro-EU campaigners hope the concession signals a future move toward rejoining the single market or customs union.
Free Movement Off the Table
Burnham has simultaneously stepped back from suggestions of restoring freedom of movement, stating he will not run ahead of public opinion. The prime minister faced backlash from Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas and cabinet splits, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reportedly critical of the idea. Burnham told ITV that shorter-term European migration has been replaced by long-term settlement, contributing to illegal migration due to lost data-sharing with EU partners.
Industry Reaction
Marco Forgione, director general of the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, welcomed the reduction in friction but warned that dynamic alignment could increase costs for some businesses and affect existing free trade agreements. Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Dr Al Pinkerton MP called the deal a “step in the right direction, but a patch, not a fix.”
Political Sensitivity
Burnham, who won a by-election in Leave-voting Makerfield on a promise not to re-litigate Brexit, insists public opinion must guide any further changes. Downing Street said it aims to secure deals adding billions to the economy, creating opportunities for young people, and cutting red tape from the “threadbare” Brexit agreement.
