1/ Behind the scenes the third country listing or 'food blockade' row isn't quite so dramatic. The EU wants the UK to provide details of its post-Brexit animal and plant health (SPS) rules by the end of next month. The UK says it will, and they'll basically be the same as now.
2/ The EU wants this information so it knows the conditions under which its farmers will be able to export goods to the UK from January 1. This is a requirement for opening up its market to agricultural produce from Britain, and is demanded of every third country on the list.
3/ EU official says the UK has pledged to transpose the Official Control Regulation, which gives the Commission oversight powers along the agrifood supply chain, as well as EU rules on animal and plant health 'with modifications'. They're now waiting for the domestic legislation.
4/ They won't have long to wait. UK spokes says legislation to make the OCR operable in UK law will be put before Parliament next month. Adds: 'The UK is committed to maintaining the highest animal welfare and biosecurity standards. Our future rules will reflect this commitment.'
5/ The EU will reserve judgement until it has seen the small print, in particular those modifications to its SPS rules. But if all is well the listing can be done in a matter of days. This is now settling down into a technocratic exercise, which is what it was always meant to be.
6/ One possible fly in the ointment is the extent to which the EU will press the UK on possible future changes to its SPS regime. Some here are nervous about the influence of talks with the US. The UK will resist doing so, saying it'll notify the EU in good time of any new rules.
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