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Resilience to threats from animal disease

Status: Open Opened: 6 May 2025 11 recommendations 21 conclusions 1 report

The National Risk Register outlines the most serious risks facing the UK. In 2023, four animal diseases were included, outlining the likelihood and impact of these diseases on the UK. With factors such as climate change and the rise in anti-microbial resistance likely increasing animal disease risks, the threats these diseases pose to the economy …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
52nd Report - Resilience to threats from animal disease HC 885 5 Nov 2025 32 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
26 Conclusion 52nd Report - Resilience to threats fro… Accepted in Part

Illegal meat imports pose significant disease threat, increasing fifty-five-fold at Dover Port

Illegally imported meat and animal products, which have not gone through checks to confirm they are disease-free and conform to UK health standards, pose a significant and growing threat for introducing new animal diseases, such as African swine fever. Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) seized 22 tonnes of illegal meat …

Government response. The government has a plan to address illegal imports outlined in its response to the EFRA Committee, has stepped up communications to travellers, is focusing on its relationship with Dover Port Health Authority, and is actively considering increases to funding …
HM Treasury
27 Conclusion 52nd Report - Resilience to threats fro… Accepted in Part

Dover Port Health Authority performs proactive illegal meat checks only 20% of the time

Port Health Authorities and Border Force are responsible for seizing illegal meat and animal product imports at ports.38 The Department praised DPHA and Border Force for their work at Dover and confirmed that it has provided £9 million of funding to DPHA to support work on illegal meat imports.39 However, …

Government response. The government has a plan to address illegal imports outlined in its response to the EFRA Committee, has stepped up communications to travellers, is focusing on its relationship with Dover Port Health Authority, and is actively considering increases to funding …
HM Treasury
28 Conclusion 52nd Report - Resilience to threats fro… Accepted in Part

Educate travellers on illegal food import risks and implement high fines for breaches

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s recent report on illegal meat imports also raised serious concerns about the threat from illegally imported meat. It highlighted that the authorities tasked with tackling illegal meat imports do not have the necessary leadership, resources and intelligence to do so effectively.42 We believe …

Government response. The government has a plan to address illegal imports outlined in its response to the EFRA Committee, has stepped up communications to travellers, is focusing on its relationship with Dover Port Health Authority, and is actively considering increases to funding …
HM Treasury
30 Conclusion 52nd Report - Resilience to threats fro… Accepted in Part

Veterinary Medicines Directorate published framework to address UK veterinary vaccine availability issues

In September 2025, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate published a Statement of Intent on UK Veterinary Vaccine Availability. This sets out a framework for future cross-sector action to address the mismatch between supply and demand for existing veterinary vaccines and facilitate the pipeline of innovative products to address existing and emerging …

Government response. VMD's Statement of Intent outlines a strategic framework for cross-sector action. A five-year multi-stakeholder Action Plan will be published late 2026, and mitigations for urgent availability issues are being identified and actioned. Defra worked with manufacturers to expedite emergency use …
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
4 Sep 2025 David Hill · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Dr Richard Lewis · National Police Chiefs’ Council and Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police, Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Professor Christine Middlemiss CB · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
16 Oct 2025 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and…