Border controls & Biosecurity

For more information regarding our work with the EFRA Committee on this important area:

• Lizzie’s EFRA Committee oral evidence session.
• To watch the full oral evidence session please click here
• To read the written evidence submitted by NPA and others please click here

ONGOING ISSUES REGARDING BORDER SECURITY

Despite the introduction of new ASF and FMD mitigation measures, we have serious concerns about the likelihood of an ASF outbreak in the UK. Following the recent cases of FMD found in Germany and Hungary, a further FMD outbreak is now more likely as well.

This is due in particular to the high volumes of illegally imported meat that continue to enter the country from ASF infected areas like Romania. This illegal import of meat is coming through both personal import routes as well as commercial routes. As such we believe that the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), in its current form, is not fit for purpose and is highly vulnerable to exploitation from organised crime.

Despite reassurance from the government that personal import checks would be introduced, there has been no apparent progress on this. Over 200 tonnes of illegal meat products have now been seized at the Port of Dover since October 2022, despite limited funding and only a small percentage of vehicles checked, and we believe this trade is only increasing. During the week commencing 6 January alone the ASF team at Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) removed a total of 10 tonnes of illegal meat from the food chain.

DPHA currently provides a 20% operational coverage at Dover. Despite assurances from Defra that Border Force are the lead agency, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee heard evidence on 4 February to suggest that Border Force are not doing that work and are entirely reliant on DPHA. At present we understand that DPHA still no funding in place for beyond the end of this financial year.

In addition, the BTOM, introduced to control and monitor commercial imports, does not appear to be functioning properly with very few physical inspections of products of animal origin (POAO) from the EU and rest-of-world taking place. There should be 140 physical inspections being conducted each day at the Sevington Border Control Post.

However, it is estimated that as few as 10% are being completed. With the added ability to auto-clear such loads without inspection, 2 hours prior to arrival, this is further increasing the risk of illegal meat entering the country with legally imported product. Furthermore, the Port of Dover is reporting an increase in goods arriving displaying a health mark that shows its prohibited from leaving its country of origin, such as Romania, but these products are being incorrectly released.

If illegal POAO is identified and confiscated, there are currently poor legal pathways and insufficient resources to take further action. As such there are no penalties to dissuade this criminal activity. The Secretary of State has proposed seizing and crushing vehicles, but for the same reasons as above, we have real reservations as to how this will be possible in reality.