EU Delivery Programme

Government Transformation and Service Delivery

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: £832m
Published schedule: Not disclosed – Low: 28/09/2028, High: 28/09/2028
NISTA delivery confidence: AMBER
Senior responsible owner: Mark Thompson

What the project is for

The Defra EU Reset Portfolio Delivery Programme will deliver the Defra Outcome to is working to deliver and implement the UK-EU SPS agreement which will reduce trade barriers with the EU for food, plants and animals.

Departmental delivery commentary

Delivery of the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement by mid-2027 remains high risk but deliverable. We are working to assumptions on negotiations and the Parliamentary timetable - both outside the Programme’s direct control - which, if met, will make delivery by mid-2027 achievable.

Schedule

The portfolio predicted end-date at 25/26-Q4 is scheduled to be 28/9/28. This is primarily due to the following factors: negotiations, Parliamentary timetable and ongoing work to embed and improve delivery mechanisms to realise the full benefits of the deal.

Cost

The portfolio’s departmentally agreed Whole Life Cost at 25/26 -Q4 is £860m over four years. This is primarily due to the following factors: digital system development and upgrades, including access to EU agencies, systems and databases, staffing costs and fees associated with border control changes.

Benefits

The portfolio is still at the planning stage (Pre-Strategic Outline Case or equivalent) and is not yet in a position to provide specific cost/schedule information. The portfolio is expected to reduce unnecessary checks, paperwork and delays, helping food move more smoothly, reliably and efficiently through the supply chain. Smaller firms are disproportionately affected by high EU-related operational and compliance costs including complex paperwork, border delays and repeat certification costs. Delivering the SPS Agreement takes avoidable costs, delays and disruptions out of the food supply chain, potentially helping to ease pressure on food price inflation. By making trade with the EU easier, cheaper and quicker, the work of the programme reduces cost pressure on businesses, improves the flow of goods and strengthens the resilience of food supplies in a volatile global environment. The benefits of the programme and Agreement will build over time rather than immediately.