NFUS urges government to 'step up to the plate' on border controls

NFU Scotland has urged the government to ‘step up to the plate immediately’ to address UK border control failings.

NFUS was responding to an article on the NPA website outlining the letter by the Livestock Chain Advisory Group (LCAG) to Defra Secretary Steve Reed expressing concerns about border control failings regarding the import of legal and illegal products.

It also comes after the Sun newspaper reported that a leaked ‘secret’ document from the Cabinet Office’s COBR unit warns that it is ‘probable’ the virus will be here within months.

NFUS vice president Andrew Connon warned that ‘lax and ineffective’ border controls are leaving farmers and crofters exposed to ‘hugely destructive’ diseases such as African Swine Fever.

Mr Connon said: “As a member of LCAG, we welcome the letter written to Defra to express the industry’s serious concerns over the current state of border controls, with regards to both legal and illegal products of animal origin (POAO).

“Months on from the introduction of the flawed and under-resourced Border Target Operating Model, the UK Government’s record on introducing effective post-Brexit border controls that protect farmers and crofters from highly damaging plant and animal diseases continues to be woeful.

“As a result of lax and ineffective border controls on both legal and illegal imports, farmers and crofters remain exposed to hugely destructive diseases such as ASF, a virus with a growing presence in parts of Europe that has the potential to wipe out the Scottish pig industry.

“The second phase of the UK Government’s Border Target Operating Model commenced in April and since then, physical and identity checks were meant to apply to medium and high-risk animal products, plants and plant products entering the UK from the EU on a risk-based approach.

“It is crystal clear that, on both legal and illegal imports, the system continues to fail and scant regard is being paid to the level of checks required, leaving our producers exposed to unacceptable levels of risk.

“The new Government must step up to the plate immediately to address border control failings and deliver an acceptable level of implementation and inspection.

“As well as ensuring border checks on legitimate imports from the EU, through control points, are appropriate, additional resource to target illegal imports through other ports must be found.”