The UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs, Rt Honourable , and the French Minister of
Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Annie Genevard, met in Paris
for a political dialogue focused on food security, agricultural
resilience and the future of agri-food trade between the United
Kingdom, France and the EU.
They underlined the strategic importance of maintaining strong
domestic agricultural production to guarantee access to safe,
sustainable and affordable food. In a context marked by
geopolitical instability, climate change and pressure on global
supply chains, food security forms an integral part of national
and European security. A competitive, innovative and resilient
agricultural sector is essential to this objective.
The Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to high
standards of animal and plant health, robust biosecurity and
sustainable farming practices. They welcomed constructive
technical engagement on specific market access issues and
emphasised the importance of measures based on World Organisation
for Animal Health (WOAH) standards and EU regulations that
protect domestic herds and flocks while facilitating trade.
They also discussed progress towards a UK-EU Sanitary and
Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, as established in the May 2025
UK-EU Common Understanding. An ambitious and durable agreement
would simplify trade, reduce administrative burdens and provide
long-term certainty for producers and retailers on both sides of
the Channel, while ensuring a high level of sanitary standards.
The Ministers noted strong consensus for the swift conclusion of
negotiations as well as for the timely resolution of market
access issues
In the context of France's G7 Presidency and the United Kingdom's
forthcoming G20 and G7 Presidencies, they reaffirmed their
intention to maintain close coordination on agriculture and food
system resilience. They look forward to meeting again on this
matter.
The Secretary of State and the Minister expressed their shared
wish to deepen Franco-British cooperation in agricultural and
food policy in the months ahead, in support of farmers, rural
communities and consumers in both countries.
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