Marmalade may need to be relabelled if a post-Brexit food deal is a agreed with the European Union as part of the government’s attempt to slash red tape and reduce trade friction with the bloc.
The spread will need to be sold as “citrus marmalade” if the agreement – which would see Britain readopt EU food regulations to boost trade – goes ahead.
The name change would reportedly be required because the EU is relaxing its labelling rules to widen the legal definition of marmalade across Europe.
Previous European regulations which were incorporated in UK law before Brexit mean that it is only preserves made from citrus fruits that can be sold as “marmalade”, while all other types of fruit spread are named “jam”.
But in the wake of the UK’s departure, Brussels has updated its rules allowing all EU countries to label non-citrus spreads as “marmalade” from June.
Meanwhile, citrus-based conserves will need to be marketed using the new legal name “citrus marmalade”.
The food deal, officially known as the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, will involve shared standards on animal and plant health.
Sir Keir Starmer is currently preparing a bill which would hand ministers powers to bring the UK into alignment with EU law, as part of an attempt to reduce paperwork and boost growth in Britain.
The bill, which will be brought forward this year, would give ministers overarching powers to bring the UK in line with EU law in certain areas, such as food standards, animal welfare and pesticide use – a process known as dynamic alignment.
It is understood that the new powers could be used to implement deals struck with the EU, including the SPS agreement.
Ministers argue that dynamic alignment would have little material impact as UK food manufacturers have already largely followed EU rules since Brexit, but it is hoped that it would reduce expensive and time-consuming paperwork for suppliers who want to export to the single market.
But there are concerns that it would see the UK surrender control over its own laws.
When the UK was a member of the EU, the government previously had a vote on new laws being passed by Brussels. But now, the UK would need to accept the laws without a vote if it wants to remain in dynamic alignment with the trade bloc.
However, government sources said that under the SPS deal, the UK would have the ability to shape EU decision-making on areas within the scope of the agreement.
But government sources insisted that firms would already have to make the shift towards the EU’s labelling rules if they want to export to the bloc, whether or not the deal is agreed. The deal comes as part of the government’s wider plan to “reset” relations with Brussels after years of strained relations since Brexit under successive Conservative governments.
The Cabinet Office has been contacted for comment.
