The National Sheep Association (NSA) continues to actively engage in pivotal policy discussions, ensuring the interests of sheep farmers and the practical realities of farming are heard.

NSA recognises that closer regulatory alignment with Europe, through an agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, could bring benefits for trade and food access. However, any agreement must protect the structures and practices that underpin UK farming, recognise the unique nature of UK sheep production and maintain high standards of animal welfare.

The UK Government and the EU are currently negotiating a post-Brexit reset, which is said to be worth up to £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040. Agriculture is expected to be covered by a new arrangement in 2027, with the potential to streamline the movement of livestock products between the UK and the EU and potentially facilitate trade in live animals and genetics.

Last week, NSA joined a UK export discussion with several other farming and trade organisations, outlining preparations needed to enable livestock trading once regulatory alignment takes place. A key concern for the livestock industry is the potential impact of EU animal welfare in transport rules, including the implications for journey times, whether time spent at markets counts towards permitted journey times, temperature requirements during transit and trailer headroom.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: "For us, success depends on a practical interpretation of the regulations that reflects the way our industry works. There is good reason why breeding and store animals move around the UK, while the current structure of the abattoir network means we often have to travel long distances to slaughter.

"NSA fully supports our industry having high welfare standards, but it also needs to be able to function professionally at scale, while accommodating varying climatic conditions. Catering for time spent at markets and the structure of our abattoir network are critical considerations.

"Trailer headroom is another example of why a practical approach is essential. The diversity of breeds and sizes of sheep in Britain means that trailers and lorries cannot all allow for standard measurements of headroom in transit without major investment or a reduction in transport efficiency."