Suffolk port health officials and Border Force have seized more than 300kg of illegal meat imports at the Ports of Felixstowe and Harwich, in the past two weeks.
In an effort to prevent African Swine Fever from entering the UK, food inspectors at the Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority (SCPHA) identified, inspected and seized high amounts of illegal meat and pork imports discovered to be coming in from European Union (EU) countries.
A total of 11 SCPHA team members have now been given training and the powers to examine meats found by the UK Border Force in vehicles, trailers and containers arriving at the Suffolk ports, as part of efforts to prevent African Swine Fever (AFS) entering the UK.
Plus, travellers from the EU are no longer allowed to bring pork or pork products weighing more than 2kg into the UK unless they are produced to the EU’s commercial standards; any pork, without verified packaging and overweight, can be seized by officials.
Richard Jacobs, port health manager of SCPHA, said: “This joint operation will further our mission of the protection of public and animal health while strengthening our long-standing relationship with Border Force.
“Every day our over 100 team members check imported food and animal products to ensure they’re safe for use and consumption, while rejecting imports that fail UK health standards. Such experience is vital to reducing the chances an ASF outbreak in Britain.”
To read the Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority’s full story, visit: www.porthealth.uk/updates/scpha-fights-spread-of-african-swine-fever-in-joint-operation-with-border-force/.