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Calls for new measures to be backed up by addressing the under-resourced introduction of Border controls.
Following a long running campaign by NFU Scotland and other stakeholders to improve Border controls, the Union has welcomed news that stronger measures have at last been introduced to protect pig farmers and the industry from an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.
From today (27 September) personal imports of pork and pork products from the EEA (European Economic Area), the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland are banned unless such products are manufactured and packaged to EU commercial standards and weigh less than a maximum of 2kg.
This is a welcome development and NFU Scotland believes it 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.
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.
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. Since personal import limits were first imposed in 2022, Border inspectors have uncovered more than 100 tonnes of illegal meat imports. But budgets, rather than being bolstered, are under threat.
“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.”
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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006