A year of two halves

As 2025 draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what kind of year it has been for the meat trade. The first half was dominated by big, unexpected events. The first quarter saw outbreaks of Foot and Mouth disease in several EU countries, which had a significant impact on trade, prices and availability in the UK. IMTA had to swiftly pivot our workflow to engage with Government and members to disseminate information and resolve issues. Q2 2025 saw Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ and changes to tariffs and threats of trade wars. Again, this was a big moment that industry had to adapt to. Also, in the first half of the year, the UK and EU announced an ambitious SPS Agreement, which would bring down many barriers to trade in meat between the UK and EU and make trade with Northern Ireland easier.

The first half of 2025 with these big ‘moments’ stands in sharp contrast to the second half, which has felt more like we are in a holding pattern. Rather than being defined by ‘moments’, it has been defined by delays and expectation management. Despite the UK-EU Reset Package being announced by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 19^th May in London, it took until late November for us to see negotiations for an SPS Agreement begin. Before implementation of the agreement can happen and barriers can come down, we need negotiations to conclude, for ratification to happen on both sides, for the legislation required to make dynamic alignment a reality to be passed, and for industry to implement the new regulations. The UK Government hopes an SPS agreement can be in place by 2027, with June 2027 being suggested as a possible implementation date. It seems a longer road than we expected with the May announcement, but IMTA is happy to see that the UK and EU are now around the negotiation table.

Before implementation of the agreement can happen and barriers can come down, we need negotiations to begin, to conclude, for ratification to happen on both sides, for the legislation required to make dynamic alignment a reality to be passed, and for industry to implement the new regulations. UK Government’s only commitment on timelines is that by the end of 2027 negotiations will be finished and relevant UK legislation will have been brought in. This does not necessarily mean implementation will happen by end of 2027. It seems a longer road than we expected with the May announcement, and IMTA urges the UK and EU to get around the negotiation table as soon as possible.

Ever since the delay to the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) last year, industry players have been speculating on whether there would be yet another delay in 2025. It looks like there will be. However, despite the EU Council and Parliament seemingly in agreement that the regulation should be delayed by another 12 months, there has still not been formal legislation passed to confirm this as of 1st December – just 30 days out from when the regulation is due to come into force.

If we talk about long-awaited developments in the meat industry, we cannot ignore the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, arguably the posterchild for delays. Negotiations opened in 2000, political agreement was reached in December 2024 and in September 2025 the Commission adopted proposals for Council decisions on the signature and conclusion of the relevant texts. However, on 12th November, Politico reported that a group of 100+ MEPs plans to set wheels in motion to ask the EU Court of Justice whether the deal is even compatible with EU treaties. IMTA has been following this deal for 25 years, and will continue to do so for members.

Rounding out a semester of delays and speculation, we even see the UK Autumn Budget taking place later than typical. It’s hard to predict what 2026 will bring for the industry, whether we’ll move full force into a plethora of upheaval and change, or continue chugging along with delays and hold-ups.