NPA calls for removal of tolerance on personal pork imports to match sheep sector

The NPA is calling for the government to remove the current 2kg allowance for personal pork imports, to match new measures introduced to protect the sheep sector.

The NPA has been urging the government to take this step for a long time, in the face of growing evidence that pork products are being illegally brought into the country, often from infected areas, in large quantities in personal luggage and private vehicles, and as this presents the greatest risk of introduction of the notifiable disease.

Since new rules banning imports of pork products above 2kg were introduced in September 2022 to address the growing risk posed of ASF in Europe and elsewhere, around 100 tonnes of illegal product has been seized at the Port of Dover, alone (some of which is pictured, right). It is widely considered that this represents just the tip of iceberg. 

The NPA believes the 2kg limit is unnecessary and makes it harder for the authorities to enforce and for travellers to understand.

The calls for zero tolerance appear to have been given greater justification after a total ban on personal imports of certain sheep and goat commodities, such as meat, cheese and milk products, to safeguard Britain’s sheep and goat populations from outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) was introduced on August 21.

NPA senior policy adviser Katie Jarvis said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned as ASF continues to spread across Europe, with several new cases reported in Germany over the summer, in both wild boar and on pig farms in the west of the country.

“Alarmingly, the disease has travelled significant distances across the country, and this spread, as is often the case, is partly a result of human activity. The news from Germany has served as a stark reminder of how far this disease can travel, particularly when aided by people.

“With that in mind, we believe there should be zero tolerance on personal imports of pork products to minimise the risk of anyone importing a product that is carrying ASF.

“Indeed, as Defra has just announced the suspension of personal imports of certain commodities to safeguard Britain’s sheep and goat populations, we can see no reason at all why this should not be extended to pork products.”

LCAG letter

The NPA was a signatory to a recent letter to Defra Secretary Steve Reed from the Livestock Chain Advisory Group, a coalition of 26 livestock and meat organisations, which also called for the Government to review its spending allocation for checks for illegal meat imports at Dover and to review how the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) is operating.

This is amid growing concerns that flaws in the new border control system, including very low levels of inspections, are also allowing commercial imports from ASF and other notifiable disease-infected areas from the rest of the world into the country unchecked.

“The new government is still settling in, and we are just about to come out of summer recess.

“But we, along with the rest of the livestock and meat sectors, are hoping ministers will now give urgent attention to all these areas where our border controls need tightening up, before it is too late,” Katie added.