Meat processor Dunbia met with Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner to discuss Government’s new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU.

Daniel Zeichner meets with Dunbia - SPS agreement

L-R: John Powell (Head of Agricultural Sectors Team, Defra), Helen Rees (human resources director, Dunbia), Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner, Hugo Popplewell (Joint Head of EU SPS Agreement, Defra), Isla Roebuck (public relations director, Dunbia), Brian Hyland (food safety and quality director, Dunbia).

Dunbia boasts 13 sites across the UK, exporting to more than 50 countries. With over 5,200 employees, the processor is supplied by over 40,000 British and Irish farms, and has grown to over £2.5 billion in annual revenue.

Trading as Dunbia in the UK and Dawn Meats in Ireland, the combined businesses process approximately one million cattle and 3.5 million sheep annually.

Food Minister Daniel Zeichner discussed the potential benefits of the scrapping of most routine border checks on food and agricultural products moving between the UK and EU. 

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), benefits of the new SPS agreement include:

  • British goods such as red meat, dairy, fish and eggs will have their documentary and physical checks removed.
  • Export Health Certificates (EHCs) will be removed, which Defra said could save businesses up to £200 per shipment of goods.
  • Removal of the ban on imports of basic UK products such as fresh sausages and burgers, as well as shellfish and seed potatoes.

The minister toured Dunbia’s Cardington plant outside Bedford with senior Dunbia executives, before visiting Co-op’s flagship distribution centre in Biggleswade with supply chain director Nick Cornwell, logistics director Ian Gibb, and head of public affairs Andrew Weston.

“This deal will make trading with the EU both easier and cheaper.”

Daniel Zeichner, Defra

Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner said: “Helping businesses to grow at home, trade abroad and stimulate jobs is central to our Plan for Change.

“This deal will make trading with the EU both easier and cheaper, adding over £5 billion to the economy and spurring growth that the whole country will benefit from.”

Niall Browne, CEO of Dunbia, said: “We welcome the Minister and his colleagues to our plant at Dunbia Cardington to show what we do and the importance of the export business to the EU for Dunbia and the British Food Industry.

“The new SPS agreement between the UK and EU is a very welcomed development and this should result in potential cost savings for our business and a smoother delivery to our EU customers, which are important to balance the carcase sales.”

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