Post-Brexit Export Costs: Relief in Sight for UK Food and Farming
- GMCCTradeteam
- Sep 15
- 2 min read

UK businesses exporting food and agricultural products to the EU have faced a staggering financial burden since Brexit. In 2024 alone, companies paid between £37 million and £65 million in licensing fees just to ship their goods across the Channel. More than 328,000 export licences were issued, each costing between £113 and £200, a figure that has hit smaller businesses particularly hard.
The government now says change is on the horizon. Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has confirmed that these licence requirements will be scrapped as part of a new deal with the EU, expected to take effect by 2027. The reform would also reduce checks on meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables, offering exporters long-awaited relief from the mountain of paperwork and costs.
Industry voices have been loud in their demands for change. Retailers including Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl, and Ocado have pressed both London and Brussels to reach a veterinary (sanitary and phytosanitary) agreement. Such a deal would cut out health certificate requirements and smooth the path for trade.
Not everyone is pleased. While Labour argues that these measures are essential to protect UK jobs and competitiveness, critics on the Conservative and Reform UK benches have branded the move a “Brexit betrayal.” Labour maintains the agreement would not undermine sovereignty or reopen freedom of movement but rather strike a balance between efficiency and independence.
Negotiations are ongoing, with the EU seeking concessions on issues such as fishing rights. Still, for many UK food exporters, the prospect of scrapping licence fees and easing checks represents a significant step towards repairing trade ties—and restoring confidence in Britain’s agricultural sector.
To summarise, UK companies spent tens of millions last year navigating red tape. A new deal aims to cut costs, simplify exports, and give smaller firms breathing room by 2027. The political debate is fierce, but for businesses on the ground, the change can’t come soon enough.
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