Salmon Scotland welcomes UK–EU deal to reduce post-Brexit export costs.
Salmon Scotland has welcomed the UK Government’s new trade agreement with the European Union, describing it as a significant step towards cutting the post-Brexit bureaucracy that has cost exporters an estimated £3 million annually.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of the trade body, said the agreement would help to “slash red tape and speed up the delivery” of farmed salmon to continental Europe. Scott is attending a business reception hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London today following the announcement of the deal.
The EU remains a core market for Scottish salmon, with France accounting for more than half of total exports. According to Salmon Scotland, around 500 lorryloads of farmed salmon are sent from the Highlands and islands to the EU each week.
The trade body said the withdrawal of physical checks was particularly welcome, citing cost and time savings for producers and their supply chains. Since the end of the Brexit transition period, more than 205,000 export health certificates have been issued for salmon shipments, costing the sector over £40 million, according to industry estimates.
“Since Brexit, our members have faced costly delays and bureaucracy moving 500 lorryloads of nutritious, low-carbon salmon across the Channel every week,” Scott said. “This breakthrough eases the burden on our farmers, processors and the communities they support.”
International sales of Scottish salmon reached a record £844 million in 2024, up 45% year-on-year, with 101,466 tonnes exported. France remained the largest market, accounting for £462 million of the total — equivalent to 55% of global exports. The EU as a whole accounted for £486 million in sales.
Salmon Scotland also pointed to growth potential in Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, where it said demand for Scottish salmon remains strong despite competitive pressure from Norway and Chile. US tariffs on Scottish salmon remain at 10%.
The trade body noted that around one-third of salmon exported to France carries the Label Rouge designation, awarded for superior quality. It aims to increase the global share of Label Rouge-certified exports to 15% by 2026.
“Scottish salmon is the UK’s biggest food export, with strong demand in the EU, the US and beyond,” said Scott. “We look forward to rebuilding trade ties across Europe and will continue to press for freer access to the US and other markets to support jobs and growth in our coastal communities.”
According to the organisation, the salmon farming sector supports 12,500 jobs and contributes £760 million to the UK economy.