Strict new controls restricting the movement of pork and pork products into the UK, which aim to help safeguard Britain’s pigs from the threat of African swine fever (ASF) have been announced by the government.
The new controls, which come into force from Thursday 1st September 2022, will strengthen the requirements for bringing pork and pork products into Great Britain from the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association states.
According to the new rules, it will no longer be legal to bring pork or pork products weighing over two kilograms, unless they are produced to the EU’s commercial standards. This does not apply to commercial imports, which remain unaffected by the control.
This action comes following the publication of a new risk assessment, conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, which recognises that the chance that the ASF virus may be brought into Great Britain stands at ‘medium risk’. It found that the most likely way the virus could be introduced to Great Britain is by a member of the public bringing pork or pork products back from an ASF-affected country.
A significant risk
African swine fever poses no risk to human health but is a highly contagious disease for pigs and wild boar. In recent months it has been spreading in mainland Europe leading to the deaths of thousands of pigs and causing significant disruption to the meat trade.
With no vaccine available, the government said that the disease poses a significant risk to domestic pig herd and long-term ability to export pork and other pork products around the globe.
Biosecurity Minister Lord Richard Benyon said: “An outbreak of African swine fever is one of the biggest threats our pig industry faces today. We are not complacent and this decisive and proportionate action will stop the entry of pork products that pose the greatest risk.
“It is essential we maintain the highest levels of biosecurity and all visitors to the UK will need to abide by these new regulations.”
Extremely relieved
Speaking about the announcement Nick Allen, CEO of the British Meat Processors Association, said: "Our concern had been mounting over the worrying increase in small van loads of meat entering the UK from areas with African Swine Fever, but with no border checks. So, we're extremely relieved that these new measures are to be brought in with immediate effect. The government listened carefully to our concerns and acted quickly to tackle the growing threat to the British Isles of African Swine Fever."
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
