A draft deal to remove post-Brexit checks from food and agriculture exports has been agreed ahead of the UK-EU summit later this month, according to sources.
A 200-page draft text will be discussed at a meeting on Wednesday ahead of a broader summit later this month.
Similar texts for deals on emissions trading and a youth travel and work scheme have also been circulated, but the food deal is considered the most significant part of the so-called Brexit reset.
It will remove checks affecting exporters since UK left the EU’s single market.
The UK government claims the UK economy will eventually see £5.1 billion worth of annual benefits, notably by allowing exports of products such as fresh sausages, burgers and shellfish to resume.
The agreement removes the need for health and sanitary certificates, along with some inspector and port fees.
In return, the UK is expected to commit to observing and adapting to existing EU regulations on plant, animal and food trade standards – a process called “dynamic alignment”.
The items up for discussion were tabled under Sir Keir Starmer, and it has been noted that the summit would have taken place by now had Labour not replaced its leader in July.
Burnham also said he had not proposed the return of freedom of movement between the UK and EU, nor a return to the single market and customs union.
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