UK-EU negotiations: When are we going to align with EU rules?

13 May 2026 3 minute read
Lucia Zitti

Lucia Zitti

NFU chief international trade adviser

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer exits the UK-EU 2025 Summit

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer exits the UK-EU 2025 Summit. Photograph: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

What is the earliest date Great Britain could re-align with EU rules and what needs to happen before then? NFU Chief International Trade Adviser Lucia Zitti gives an update on the negotiations, and the work the NFU is doing to ensure the final deal creates opportunities for growth for our farmers and growers. 

It has all gone quiet on plans to re-align with EU rules on food production in Great Britain, otherwise known as a common SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) area.

This won’t last long.

Negotiations are happening at pace, with the UK and EU wanting to conclude and announce a deal before the summer break.

The King’s Speech is also happening on Wednesday 13 May and will introduce a piece of legislation that is going to give the government the power to introduce legislative changes to enact 'dynamic alignment', in other words – transposing EU legislation into our rulebook.

How we’ve represented your views

“We continue to advocate for a deal that is going to create growth in the GB agriculture sector, making it easier to trade with our biggest trading partner, the EU.”

NFU Chief International Trade Adviser Lucia Zitti

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