More than 200 tonnes of ‘unsafe food’ has been seized by Ashford Port Health Authority at the Sevington Inland Border Facility since November 2024.
Based at the Sevington facility, which lies about 22 miles inland from the Port of Dover, the port health authority is marking two years since its establishment. The service has grown quickly from a team of three in 2021 into what the authority describes as ‘the busiest and most significant Border Control Post in the country, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week’.
Since going live in April 2024, the team has been carrying out hundreds of checks each day on imported food and feed entering the UK via the Port of Dover and Channel Tunnel, helping to ensure that only safe, compliant goods reach the market.
Over the past two years, Ashford Port Health Authority said it has ‘delivered measurable impact’, including:
- 208 tonnes of unsafe food seized and destroyed since November 2024
- Around 22,800 import notifications processed on average each month
“These checks play an important role in preventing contaminated or unsafe goods from entering the UK, particularly at times when there is increased risk from animal and plant disease outbreaks across Europe,” the authority said.
Alongside its core operations, the Authority has also continued to look at how technology can support the service. Work is ongoing to develop AI-assisted systems to help streamline parts of the border clearance process, improving efficiency while maintaining the same high standards of safety and compliance.
At the same time, there has been a strong focus on tackling the national shortage of environmental health professionals, including:
- Around 100 staff trained through funded programmes since 2021 with a further 32 currently undertaking qualifications.
- £1 million secured in funding for training and development
- Qualifications have been achieved across leading UK universities including Birmingham, Middlesex and Derby
Ashford Port Health Authority said it was now ‘widely regarded as one of the UK’s top-performing port health services, working closely with partners including Border Force, HMRC, DEFRA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency’.
Anthony Baldock, director of Ashford Port Health Authority and chairman of the Association of Port Health Authorities, said: “We’ve built something here that is genuinely making a difference on a national scale.
“In just two years, we’ve gone from setting up a brand-new service to operating the busiest Border Control Post in the country. That has only been possible because of the commitment and professionalism of the team.
“Every day, we are on the front line protecting the UK from risks to public health, animal health and the food chain. Whether that’s stopping unsafe imports, responding to disease outbreaks, or working with traders to get things right, our focus is on doing the job properly.
“We’re also always looking at how we can improve what we do. That includes exploring how technology, including AI, can support the service and help us work more efficiently without compromising on standards.
“I’m incredibly proud of what the team has achieved, not just in terms of the day-to-day operation, but in developing skills, creating opportunities and helping to strengthen the profession for the future.”
Separately, the Dover Port Health Authority is continuing its work at the Port of Dover to tackle the illegal meat trade. It has now seized more than 400t of illegally imported meat since September 2022, with volumes escalating in recent months, including more than 14t in a single week at the end of March.