Border security has been called into question by livestock bodies
The UK's borders have been called into question once again after 600kg of illegal meat was seized in Northern Ireland.
Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA), said while the recent foot-and-mouth disease case in Germany had revealed 'weaknesses' in the UK's border security, the increased level of criminal activity involving illegal meat was equally concerning.
Mr Allen said: "It has become more lucrative and easier to smuggle cheap, illegal meat products into the UK which get distributed to small shops and individuals via an established criminal network.
"The recent foot-and-mouth disease case in Germany has highlighted weaknesses in the UK's biosecurity at borders, but we must make the distinction between legal commercial shipments of meat which the Border Target Operating Model is there to manage… and the smaller vehicles that can only be detected via a system of intelligence and spot checks at the ports."
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According to reports, 600kg of illegal meat arrived in Northern Ireland via the Stranraer to Larne ferry. The vehicle is thought to have entered the UK at either Dover or another port in eastern England, before travelling through the country undetected. The meat was said to be wrapped in loose packaging, enhancing disease risk.
A spokesperson for the National Pig Association said the recent seizure was ‘deeply concerning'.
"News of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Germany has rightly raised concerns around the risk of notifiable disease entry into the UK, and with both foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever (ASF) present in countries very close to the UK, the NPA is continuing its calls for effective and adequately resourced border controls."
Delay
Both the BMPA and NPA have raised concerns about the Government's delayed response to news of the outbreak.
Mr Allen said: "There should also have been a blanket ban on individual travellers bringing any amount of meat or dairy into the UK, which poses just as big a risk to biosecurity as illegal imports.
"A blanket ban would be much simpler to follow and would have removed the requirement for individuals to work out the complicated temporary restrictions that were put in place. Disinfectant mats should also have been placed at all ports of entry for foot passengers and vehicles."
Defra has been contacted for the article.
