Tue, 04 Feb 2025

Illegal meat on most UK high streets, official says

Post-Brexit checks are undermining efforts to keep out potentially disease-ridden meat, official says.

* Post-Brexit border checks at Dover's Sevington site have been criticized by a senior health official, who says they are undermining efforts to keep potentially disease-ridden meat out of the UK.
* The head of the Dover Port Health Authority, Lucy Manzano, claims that many lorries are failing to turn up for checks due to lack of enforcement and inadequate funding.
* She stated that Defra has been overstating the effectiveness of the new system, saying "there are not robust controls in place. They don't exist."
* Ms Manzano also said that she had presented evidence to the government demonstrating that the system is not working, but it was ignored.
* The official claimed that illegal meat is now available on "most high streets" in the UK and that consumers are increasingly unable to spot products that have gone through proper health checks.
* Defra refused to comment on a Freedom of Information request regarding how many vehicles were failing to turn up for checks, but stated that they will continue to work with enforcement agencies to protect biosecurity.
* The government introduced restrictions on German meat imports following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, but Ms Manzano said failures in the IT system meant products were allowed to enter freely for at least six days.
* Funding for spot checks on smaller vehicles is due to run out in seven weeks, and without further government cash, these checks will stop.
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