UK and EU close in on agricultural deal to reduce Brexit barriers

Lords told sales of Scottish shellfish among areas that may benefit – but agreement will not erase all paperwork

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A new agriculture agreement with the EU would not wipe out all Brexit paperwork but may greatly increase sales of Scottish langoustines and oysters, the House of Lords has heard.

The UK and EU are close to finalising a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to reduce Brexit trade barriers, and while it will have “modest” impact on the UK economy the agreement will be significant, peers on the European affairs committee were told on Tuesday.