Time to clamp down on personal food imports, says Scots government
© Claude Wangen/Adobe Stock The Scottish government is warning of the “many threats” presented by personal imports of animal products by travellers returning from the EU to Great Britain, urging Defra to implement a planned tightening of the rules “without delay”.
Under current rules, consumers returning from the EU, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland can bring in any amount of dairy produce, fish and meat if it is for personal use – though there is a 2kg limit on pork or pork products, introduced in September 2022 as a disease control measure.
Defra also advises that, “because of an outbreak of African swine fever, you need to properly dispose of any leftover meat so that pigs and wild boar cannot eat it”.
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A tightening up of these rules is on the cards, but the Scottish government is frustrated that details are hard to come by, and it is concerned that an intended April 2024 start date could yet slip.
Dangers
In a letter to Defra undersecretary Robbie Douglas-Miller, who has responsibility for biosecurity, Scottish environment minister Gillian Martin warned of the dangers posed by personal food imports.
“There are many threats circulating globally, including African swine fever [ASF], which is present in many of our closest neighbours in Europe,” she wrote. “Personal imports of animal products represent a huge risk.”
Ms Martin pointed to evidence from Border Force which indicates that travellers from ASF-affected countries are carrying large quantities of risky pork products, which threaten human and animal health.
Given the ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza and bluetongue virus, any outbreak of ASF would put huge pressure on the already stretched Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Ms Martin expressed her disappointed that the planned changes to personal import policy had still not been announced, and insisted there should be no delay beyond April.
“Time is of the essence and publicising these changes cannot be delayed any further,” she said.
Defra response
In response, Defra insisted that the new policy on personal imports would come into effect in April 2024, and would adopt similar principles of risk assessment and proportionality, as set out in the Border Target Operating Model for commercial meat and dairy imports.
“The future policy for personal imports is still being finalised and we will publish details shortly,” said a spokesman.
Border Target Operating Model
The rules on personal imports are distinct from commercial food imports.
These will be covered by the Border Target Operating Model, which is due to take effect at the end of this month.
From 31 January, EU businesses exporting “medium-risk” plant and animal products (including milk, dairy products, meat and meat products) to Great Britain will have to submit extra paperwork, including health certificates and import licences.
Full physical checks on such imports are due to come into force from 30 April.