MPs have renewed warnings over UK’s biosecurity after accusing the Government of showing a “lack of urgency” in tackling illegal meat imports, as ministers formally responded to concerns raised in a recent parliamentary report.

The Government’s approach to threats to the UK’s biosecurity is to leave the UK sitting in the firing line. Pathogens don’t wait for policy – that’s why urgency in biosecurity matters.”

In its report Biosecurity at the Border: Britain’s Illegal Meat Crisis, published in September, the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee highlighted delays in strengthening border controls and weaknesses in Defra’s oversight of import systems.

The Committee warned that these failings risk leaving the UK exposed to diseases such as African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease, both capable of disrupting farming and food supply chains.

Illegal meat imports, often carried into the country in personal luggage or via unregulated shipments, continue to pose a serious threat.

UK Government response

In its official response, published this week, the UK Government said: “The Government shares the Committee’s concerns about illegal imports of meat and dairy products into England and the potential risks posed to animal health and food safety. Defra is working closely with the Home Office and the Food Standards Agency to tackle this issue, with the support of Border Force, port health authorities, local authorities and the Devolved Governments, including Food Standards Scotland.”

Ministers said they accepted many of the Committee’s conclusions and pledged to take a more strategic, cross-government approach to border biosecurity. Plans include exploring the creation of an inter-ministerial group on the goods border to improve coordination between departments. However, the Government stopped short of establishing the dedicated biosecurity taskforce recommended by MPs.

Despite acknowledging the scale of the problem, Defra said several of the Committee’s key recommendations would only be considered after the UK concludes its Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) negotiations with the EU – a trade agreement covering food, plant and animal products that is not expected to be in place until 2027.

Leaving the UK exposed

The EFRA Committee warned that this timeline leaves the UK exposed to continuing illegal imports. Since the report’s publication, the Dover Port Health Authority has revealed it seized more than 20 tonnes of illegally imported meat in a single month, underlining the scale of the problem.

While the Government has partially accepted some of the Committee’s recommendations, including a commitment to rebuild the relationship between Defra and the Dover Port Health Authority, MPs remain concerned by what they see as a lack of urgency from ministers.

Chair of the EFRA Committee, Alistair Carmichael MP, said: “The SPS Agreement is not going to regulate those who chop up animals and transport them in suitcases – which we witnessed on the Committee’s visit to the Port Health Authority in Dover. The Government’s approach to threats to the UK’s biosecurity is to leave the UK sitting in the firing line. Pathogens don’t wait for policy – that’s why urgency in biosecurity matters.”

He added: “African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease – whatever the next threat to animal health will be – we cannot wait for the UK’s negotiations with the EU to conclude, never mind wait for implementation. Our report found that there is currently no effective deterrent to meat smuggling and the risks to animal and human health, our food security, farming sector and the economy are significant.”