National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Scotland has welcomed news that measures have been introduced to protect pig farmers and the industry from an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.
The news follows a long-running campaign by NFU Scotland and other stakeholders to improve Border controls.
From Friday 27th September, personal imports of pork and pork products from the EEA (European Economic Area), the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland have been banned, unless such products are manufactured and packaged to EU commercial standards and weigh less than a maximum of 2kg.
NFU Scotland believes the policy must function as a launch pad for further protective measure being provided that will see the “under-resourced introduction” of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) for commercial imports of meat addressed.
The UK Government’s record on introducing effective post-Brexit border controls that protect farmers and crofters from highly damaging plant and animal diseases has been repeatedly challenged by NFUS, after what it called “numerous false starts” and delays over several years, “all of which have left farmers and crofters exposed to hugely destructive diseases such as ASF.”
ASF is a highly contagious and deadly disease in pigs and wild boar that can be transmitted through infected meat. Cases continue to be recorded across Europe and, were it to arrive in the UK, it has the potential to devastate the pig industry, worth an estimated £8 billion.
Welcome change must be properly resourced
NFU Scotland’s Pigs Committee chair Jamie Wyllie said: “These new measures are one step towards protecting the nation’s pig farmers from a disease that has the potential to wipeout the sector.
“On proper Border controls, we are acutely aware that adequate Government funding and resources are an issue, so we are looking to the UK Government to provide the guidance and enforcement necessary to back up this change.
“As an example, Scottish Government has provided detector dogs for use at Scottish ports of entry, following requests for support from the sector to help protect our Borders. The dogs are proving their worth in uncovering significant amounts of unsanctioned meat products entering Scotland.
“However, the worrying reality is that current checks across the UK are only revealing the tip of the iceberg where illegal meat imports are concerned, and this welcome change must be properly resourced.”
“Investigations have revealed that commercial meat from ASF-restricted areas is clearly still coming in without the checks required.”
According to Wyllie, since personal import limits were first imposed in 2022, border inspectors have uncovered more than 100 tonnes of illegal meat imports.
He added: “While this announcement is welcome, we are still pressing for proper implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary checks on commercial imports following the under-resourced implementation of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). The implementation of the BTOM is not working effectively or consistently.
“Investigations have revealed that commercial meat from ASF-restricted areas is clearly still coming in without the checks required. This meat will be making its way to our food chain, through food service or retail, and this flaw must be addressed.
“That is why we need border checks of commercial meat to come into force properly as soon as possible.”
