Pig Sector Welcomes EFRA Push to Protect UK Standards
NPA Welcomes EFRA Committee Recommendations on EU-UK SPS Deal
The National Pig Association has welcomed a new report from Parliament’s EFRA Committee on the ongoing negotiations for a UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, urging the government to adopt safeguards that protect domestic producers.
The EFRA Committee’s report calls on ministers to avoid automatic regulatory alignment with the EU where it could disadvantage UK farmers. Key recommendations include securing carve-outs on animal welfare standards, strengthening border controls, and protecting the UK’s ability to advance precision breeding technologies.
The NPA said the report reflects long-standing concerns within the pig sector that UK producers could be undercut by lower-standard imports if regulatory differences are not carefully managed. It also stressed the importance of robust import checks to maintain biosecurity and protect the UK herd.
The association urged the government to use the SPS negotiations to deliver practical trade facilitation without weakening domestic standards, warning that producers are already operating under higher regulatory and cost pressures than many EU competitors.
The EFRA Committee has also recommended a phased implementation period for any regulatory changes, giving farmers and processors time to adapt if an agreement is reached.
Source: National Pig Association | 5 February 2026
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