Welcome to May's customs update. This month, we're putting the UK/EU Reset front and centre, arguably the most significant development in UK-EU relations since Brexit, and one with far-reaching implications for businesses trading across the border.
The proposed SPS alignment is generating plenty of headlines, but behind the promise of reduced friction lies a more complex picture. This edition examines what alignment could mean for the checks and controls protecting the UK's biosecurity, the knock-on effects for British farmers and regulatory standards, and crucially, who gets to set those standards going forward.
We also cover the practical side, how removing GB SPS checks could reshape the movement of goods, removing the need for pre-notification, and giving traders the ability to make use of simplifications such as EIDR.
Alongside our main feature, you'll find the Regulatory Watch and Declaration of the Month, both packed with practical guidance and expert insight to help you navigate whatever comes next.