More needs to be done to educate British travellers of a new ban on personal meat and dairy imports from the EU, introduced last weekend in a bid to tackle the growing threat of foot and mouth disease, suppliers have warned.
Defra, at short notice, last Saturday announced it was introducing a ban on a slew of imports by travellers for personal use to “protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK’s food security”, following a rising number of FMD cases on the Continent.
The ban covers cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products. Defra said restrictions included items ranging from sandwiches to cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk, regardless of how it was packed or packaged, or whether it had been bought at duty-free.
The EU-wide ban expands on existing personal import restrictions on cattle, sheep and other ruminants and pigmeat, in addition to dairy products, from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. Those countries earlier this year confirmed outbreaks of FMD.
A separate ban on commercial imports of meat and dairy products from Germany due to concerns over FMD was lifted late last month, after Britain officially recognised regionalisation for FMD at the containment zone level – meaning the rules only apply to a 6km radius around the outbreak.
While welcoming Defra’s move on personal imports, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers warned the government now needed “to ensure that travellers, especially those holidaying in Europe this summer, are made aware at the point of embarkation, that they are not permitted to bring in meat and dairy products to Great Britain”.
Anyone breaking the rules could face up to a £5,000 fine in England. However, there are already concerns many people remain unaware of the ban, with the BBC reporting today that consumers did not feel it had been publicised sufficiently.
AIMS’ comments echo those of the main UK farming unions at an event earlier this month, which called for a cross-government biosecurity plan and investment to tackle the threat of animal disease. Former Defra minister Lord Rooker called for tougher, New Zealand-style import restrictions: “We’re both islands. We’re both carrying the same risks,” he said at the event.
“Robust contingency plans are already in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security,” said deputy chief vet Dr Jorge Martin-Almagro.
“This biosecurity measure, combined with all others we have implemented, are critical to limit the risk of FMD incursion. I would urge livestock keepers to continue exercising the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, ensure scrupulous biosecurity is maintained and to report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal & Plant Health Agency.”
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