Hauliers urged to take action to reduce risk of ASF reaching the UK

Defra Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss has written to hauliers warning them of the risks of bringing African swine fever into the UK.

Ms Middlemiss has written to the Road Haulage Association (including Scotland & Northern Ireland contacts), the Freight Transport Association, the British Retail Consortium and the Federation of Wholesale Distributors.

The associations have also been sent a poster explaining why there a heightened risk associated with ASF and what they should and should not do to minimise the risk.  Advice to hauliers in the poster includes:

• PLEASE DO NOT bring pork, wild boar meat or meat products back to the UK from affected areas.
• USE A SECURE BIN to dispose of waste food – avoid dropping meat products.
• NEVER feed pigs or wild boar with meat or meat products – THIS IS ILLEGAL.
• AVOID CONTACT with wild boar found dead or sick, and the area near them

It also provides detailed instructions on how to clean and disinfect vehicles.

You can download it here

In her letter, Ms Middlemiss stresses the need for everyone travelling between the continent and the UK, including all types of hauliers, to take ‘several precautions to reduce the riak of ASF entering the UK’.

The letter and poster are the latest steps in a communication campaign involving Defra/APHA, the NPA and others to raise awareness among relevant sectors and the wider public about the current severe risks posed by ASF.