Foot-and-mouth disease: Meat industry calls for total ban on personal imports of meat products

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) explained that this decisive action is imperative to protect the UK’s livestock from the imminent threats posed by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF).

Yesterday, the government announced a ban on cattle, pig and sheep imports from Germany.

GB health certificates will no longer be issued for animals susceptible to FMD, including all live animals and fresh meat.

The UK chief veterinary officer has also urged livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of FMD following a confirmed case of the disease in Germany. There are currently no cases of the disease in the UK.

Dr Jason Aldiss, executive director at AIMS, said: “The recent outbreak of FMD has now led to the UK banning imports of live animals and meat and dairy products from Germany.

“However, personal imports of meat products continue to enter the country unchecked, particularly through our airports.”

READ MORE: Foot and mouth disease outbreak confirmed in Germany

Significant biosecurity risk

Dr Aldiss said that this loophole presents a “significant biosecurity risk”, as both FMD and ASF viruses can survive in fresh and cured meat products for extended periods, remaining highly infectious.

“UK airports have become critical points of vulnerability. The lack of stringent controls allows passengers to bring in meat products without adequate scrutiny.

“A single discarded ham sandwich in areas like the New Forest or the Forest of Dean, where wild boar populations are prevalent, could trigger a catastrophic outbreak.

“Our own farming representatives and professional sources have indicated to us that the UK is woefully underprepared for an outbreak of this nature,” he continued.

Dr Aldiss said that the UK’s agri-livestock sector is a vital contributor to the country’s GDP, and an incursion of FMD or ASF would have devastating economic consequences.

The 2001 FMD outbreak resulted in the slaughter of over 6 million animals and caused financial losses estimated at £8 billion, which today, allowing for inflation over the last 24 years, would be around £17 billion, he added.

“For a government that stresses the need for food security they need to implement an immediate and comprehensive prohibition on all personal imports of meat products from pigs and ruminants, regardless of origin.

“They must also invest in robust screening and enforcement measures at all UK entry points, be they ports, the channel tunnel, and especially airports, to prevent illegal meat imports. And allocate resources to bolster our preparedness and response capabilities against exotic animal diseases”.

“The time for half measures has passed. To safeguard our livestock industry and the broader economy, the UK must act decisively to eliminate the risk posed by personal meat imports. We call on the government to prioritise this issue and implement the necessary measures without delay,” the expert concluded.

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