Former Conservative minister Greg Hands is “opposed” to an agreement where London would agree to align with EU regulations on sanitary and phytosanitary rules. Photograph: PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty ImagesA European Union/UK agreement on food exports designed to resolve problems in existing trade between Britain and Northern Ireland could come at too high a price, a former British minister for trade has warned. However, Mr Hands said: “Why would the UK voluntarily and dynamically align with rules over which we have no say? He had doubts that an SPS agreement would remove all of the GB/NI hurdles that are being claimed for it: “It’s an arguable thing. The Irish Government has frequently “smoothed things over” when difficulties have emerged between London and Brussels, said Mr Hands, who now works with a Czech-based industrial group.

Source: The Irish Times November 05, 2025 20:33 UTC