- Dairy farmers to benefit from protection of additional export
opportunities worth £250 million over five years through
successful market access intervention
- Change will see the removal of another costly market access
barrier for UK businesses, cutting administrative hurdles and
over £1,000 in certification fees per shipment
- Delivers on the Government's Trade Strategy and Plan for
Change to grow exports and support rural communities
British dairy farmers are set to benefit from continued access to
a major international market thanks to a breakthrough with Egypt
that will prevent a trade barrier due to come into effect next
year.
Preventing the trade barrier that was due to come into force in
January will protect an estimated £250 million in additional
export opportunities for farmers over five years helping them
sell more products like milk, butter and cheese.
Following regular UK Government engagement in support of
international efforts—led jointly by the Department for Business
and Trade and Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs—Egypt will not impose a proposed trade barrier requiring
halal certification on all dairy imports.
From Cornish clotted cream to farmhouse butter and mature
Cheddar, UK dairy products are known for their quality and taste.
This change means British favourites like cheese and butter can
continue to reach Egyptian shelves more easily and affordably
benefiting both UK farmers and international consumers.
Minister for Trade Policy said:
“This is a clear win for UK farmers. By opening up the
Egyptian market, we're helping British farmers sell more of their
world-class dairy abroad.
“This is what our Trade Strategy looks like in action:
removing barriers, boosting exports, and backing communities
across the UK.”
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs said:
“Britain is a great place for dairy farming and has an
excellent reputation for quality, welfare standards and
sustainability globally.
“The change to certification requirements in Egypt will cut
costs and red tape for exporters, boosting growth
opportunities.
“This is a key example of the government's Plan for Change in
action, unlocking investment for businesses in the UK.”
In 2024, the UK exported around £26 million of dairy items to
Egypt and removing this barrier protects UK exporters already
exporting to Egypt and those looking to enter the market for the
first time.
The proposed barrier would have required halal certification on
dairy products, adding over £1,000 per shipment in costs and
complexity. Its removal has protected UK exporters from these
additional burdens—reducing costs, simplifying export procedures,
and creating new commercial opportunities for processors.
This is particularly good news for producers of cheese, butter
and milk powder—some of the UK's most popular dairy exports—who
now face fewer hurdles when selling to Egyptian buyers.
Rod Addy Director General of Provision Trade Federation,
said:
“Egypt's decision to remove mandatory halal
certification requirements for imports of dairy products is a
welcome development, eliminating a longstanding trade barrier for
UK exporters, especially at a time of broader market
uncertainty.
The UK is currently among the leading suppliers
of dairy products to Egypt, with
average annual exports valued at around £26 million in 2024 —
driven primarily by powdered milk and cream.
Hopefully this change will open growth opportunities for
other dairy categories such as cheese and butter, helping to
diversify and expand the UK's export portfolio in this key market
benefiting both UK producers and Egyptian consumers.”
This forms part of the Government's Trade Strategy, launched in
June, which is focused on removing market access barriers,
opening new markets, and growing the UK economy.
It also supports the Government's wider aim to deliver a steady
pipeline of export wins following the launch of the Trade
Strategy—highlighting how targeted interventions can deliver
real-world results for UK businesses.
Notes to editors:
- This market access win is a result of the Department for
Business and Trade's engagements with counterparts in London,
Geneva, and Cairo, including Egypt's National Food Safety
Authority, the General Organization for Veterinary Services and
the World Trade Organisation. Its resolution also follows
sustained engagement by UK officials and significant support from
the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the
UK's Agriculture, Food, and Drink Attachés for Africa.
- The £250m exports over five-year figure is a mid-point of a
range of £100m - £400m. The DBT methodology to value market
access barriers can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/methodologies-for-valuing-market-access-barriers
