Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an estimate of the cost to British businesses of not securing a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement with the European Union.

Defra commissioned research highlights significant non-tariff measure costs for exporting GB agri-food and plant products to the EU:

• Export Health Certificates cost up to £200 for agri-food goods.
• Phytosanitary Certificates cost approximately £25 alongside inspection fees of at least £127.60.
• Organic Certificates of Inspection, required for the export of organic lamb and cheese, cost on average £35.
• Identity check fees on meat and dairy exports adds £31 per load on average.
• For beef and salmon, queueing times for checks can add costs of up to £149 per load.
• Additional driver charges, paid to hauliers for border-related friction, typically £200 per shipment.
• Sampling can add approximately £1,200 to a cheese load, £1,400 to a salmon shipment, £440 to a load of apples, and £1,200 to a beef load.

The SPS Agreement will significantly reduce these costs. The details of the Agreement are subject to negotiation.