A new agreement between the UK and European Union (EU) announced on 19 May is expected to improve cross-border logistics operations, removing significant barriers to trade since Brexit.

At the heart of the deal is a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement that will reduce paperwork and regulatory burdens for food and drink imports and exports.

Some routine checks on animal and plant products will be eliminated entirely, allowing goods to flow more freely between the UK and EU, including between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The EU is the UK’s largest trading partner and since Brexit there has been a 21% drop in exports and a 7% drop in imports.   

British exporters will now regain the ability to sell products such as burgers and sausages to the EU market, reopening vital trade routes for these industries.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the agreement as "good for jobs, good for bills, and good for our borders." The government estimates that the SPS measures, combined with new emissions trading arrangements, will add nearly £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040.

The deal addresses the border congestion issues that have caused challenges to logistics companies, with the announcement specifically mentioning the reduction of "lengthy lorry queues at the border."

The perpetual nature of the SPS agreement could provide much-needed certainty for logistics planners and supply chain managers.