“The EFRA Committee’s report ‘Making an SPS Agreement Work’ clearly recognises that reducing costly border checks, certification requirements and unnecessary red tape has the potential to strengthen supply chains and restore competitiveness,” she said.

“Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector has faced significant disruption because of the Protocol and Windsor Framework.”

Negotiations are ongoing, with the UK-EU reset deal expected by June 2027. The MP added: “Any future deal cannot come at the expense of our farmers, nor should it sacrifice or undermine the high standards that underpin the reputation of UK produce at home and abroad.”

“The UK must retain the ability to set and retain its own animal welfare rules, without automatically following every regulatory change made in Brussels. “It is crucial to ensure that UK producers are not undercut by imports from countries where animal welfare standards fall short of our own.”

The Upper Bann MP continued: “Pesticide regulation is another delicate and highly technical area for negotiation. It would be a serious mistake if dynamic alignment resulted in products being banned in the UK simply because they are prohibited in the EU, without proper assessment of their suitability for our distinct climate and production systems.

“Equally, we must not allow regulatory alignment to squander the competitive advantage the UK has built through scientific innovation, particularly in precision breeding. The UK has moved first in this field, and that progress must not be lost.”

As a member of the government’s Veterinary Medicines Working Group, Carla Lockhart MP, is keen to see the Labour Government take decisive action to support trade within our own internal market. “It is outrageous that veterinary meds coming from GB to NI are now prohibited or subject to additional bureaucratic processes.”
 
“There must also be honesty with the public and the wider economy about the realities of dynamic alignment. Farmers and agri-businesses deserve clarity, sufficient implementation periods – at least 24 months for any regulatory changes – and robust contingency planning should negotiations fail to deliver a satisfactory outcome.”

The MP added: “An SPS deal could represent an important opportunity to reduce friction and unlock unnecessary trade burdens. This could be an opportunity for the Labour Government to finally get it right. They have failed spectacularly on resolving the ongoing barriers to trade within our own internal market, by continuing to kowtow to the EU regarding the Windsor Framework and Protocol.

“Ultimately, the deal must protect UK agriculture, safeguard our sovereignty, and ensure that no agreement disadvantages the very farmers and food producers it is intended to support.”