NFU joins calls for more government action on import controls

Concerns over import controls and volumes of illegal meat imports entering the UK have been raised by a growing number of farming groups, including the NFU, National Sheep Association (NSA), and National Pig Association.

The EU has imposed full checks on UK exports throughout the past three years, however, checks on food imports to the UK from the EU were only brought in earlier this year and illegal imports are still posing a threat to British farmers and food safety.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw has written to Defra parliamentary under-secretary Baroness Hayman with concerns that a greater degree of risk remains to biosecurity and food fraud from imports than is necessary or acceptable.

See also: Industry warns of disease and illegal imports from EU to UK

Mr Bradshaw said: “A breakdown in biosecurity is one of the most serious risks we face as a nation.

“Livestock businesses must feel confident that border checks and controls safeguard the nation’s biosecurity and food safety, and that sufficient resource is dedicated to stamping out fraud and illegal activity where that exists.”

The NFU has reiterated its support for the UK government’s Border Target Operating Model, but has warned that the reality on the ground needs to be improved.

Mr Bradshaw added that any delay while transiting through Border Control Points (BCPs) could also pose a viable threat to businesses, food security and biosecurity.

“BCPs are seen by the industry as a point of infection risk, rather than inspection. To date, growers have experienced long delays, meaning young plants and plant materials are being destroyed.”

Illegal meat imports

Diseases, such as African swine fever and peste des petits ruminants virus, are currently prevalent on the Continent and would pose huge concerns for the livestock sector if brought into the UK through illegal imports.

Earlier this week, the NSA called for the “alarming rise” in illegal sheep meat imports to be addressed urgently by the new Labour government.

Similarly, the Livestock Chain Advisory Group has raised “serious concerns” related to border controls.

An open letter was also sent earlier this month by the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Certification Working Group to Defra secretary Steve Reed, raising concerns that illegal food products were potentially being offloaded in the UK before reaching the control posts.

A government spokesperson said: “Protecting UK biosecurity is one of our key priorities, and we are working with Border Control Posts to ensure they operate effectively and with traders to ensure checks are completed efficiently, swiftly and without significant delay.”