Shropshire MP calls for crackdown on illegal meat imports amid foot and mouth disease threat
North Shropshire’s MP has called for urgent action to tackle the threat of illegal meat imports at Dover, which pose a serious risk to UK biosecurity and the livelihoods of local farmers.
Addressing the House of Commons, Helen Morgan highlighted the severe challenges faced by farmers in Shropshire, particularly in the dairy and livestock sectors which are already enduring significant hardship.
She raised evidence presented by border authorities at Dover regarding illegal meat imports, and the potential dangers they bring, including the risk of devastating diseases such as foot and mouth.
When it last hit the country in 2001, foot and mouth disease (FMD) saw 2,000 cases of the disease on farms across most of the British countryside, with over six million cows and sheep slaughtered. The UK has been free of FMD since 2007.
The MP spoke after a Government statement on foot and mouth disease, which was confirmed in the German state of Brandenburg last week, and led to a ban on the import of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany.
Mrs Morgan said: “In Shropshire, dairy and other livestock farmers have been having a torrid time recently and they will have read this news with a sense of dread. I'm also an officer on the All Party Group for Food Security and we recently heard some eye-watering evidence from the border authorities at Dover about illegal meat imports and the threat that they pose to UK biosecurity.
“Can the Minister explain to the House what assessment he's made of the problems with that process and what he intends to do to ensure that diseases like foot and mouth don't arrive in the UK?”
Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “I thank the Honourable Lady for the concern that she expresses, and I repeat the points I made earlier about the border controls that we have in place. Of course we've been aware.
"I'm afraid this has been a long-running issue, but we have much stronger border controls in place than we would have done in previous times and we are working hard with the port health authorities to make sure that we crack down on illegal imports of meat.”
In a statement, he added: "The Government will do whatever it takes to protect our nation’s farmers from the risk posed by foot and mouth.
"That is why restrictions have immediately been brought in on animal products from Germany to prevent an outbreak and we will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads.
"We will continue to keep the situation under review working closely with the German authorities."
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said: "We remain in constant contact with German counterparts to understand the latest situation following their confirmation of a single case of foot and mouth disease.
"We have robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security, which means using all measures to limit the risk incursion and spread of this devastating disease.
"I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
"Everyone can help stop animal diseases spreading to this country by not bringing home meat, cheese and milk products when they travel abroad."
