Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Strengthen border controls and public education to combat illegal meat imports into the UK
Recommendation
Controls at the border to prevent a new disease arriving in the UK via illegal meat imports are insufficient to the level of risk. Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) reported a fifty-five-fold increase in the seizures of illegal meat imports from January 2023 to January 2025. The Department is not clear whether this is due to an increase in actual imports, or better surveillance and enforcement activities. The Department provides DPHA with some funding to complete proactive illegal meat checks, but this only allows DPHA to undertake this work for 20% of the time. Future funding allocations are subject to the Department’s upcoming business planning processes. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has also raised several concerns about the increase in illegal meat imports. recommendation The Department should: a. undertake research to understand the reasons for the apparent increase in illegal meat imports to the UK to inform future policy and funding decisions; and b. when determining the resources made available to DPHA and Border Force at Dover to tackle illegal meat imports, weigh this against the significant costs a major disease outbreak could have if introduced through the port of Dover. c. The Department should set out what more can be done to educate travellers not to bring illegal food products into the UK and that high fines are imposed on those that do.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, stating it has stepped up communications for travellers regarding import restrictions and is undertaking research to improve estimates of illegal meat imports, with a new methodology details to be published in early 2026. It is actively considering increased funding for Dover Port Health Authority, taking into account disease outbreak costs, but notes Border Force is funded by the Home Office.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. government response to the recent EFRA Select Committee report ‘Britain’s illegal meat crisis’. Biosecurity at the border: Britain's illegal meat crisis: Government Response The department has noted calls to do more to educate travellers about the consequences of bringing illegal food products into the United Kingdom. In recent months, it has worked with travel operators and other government departments to step up communications informing travellers of the restrictions on personal imports of food products, including via GOV.UK, posters and social media channels. This includes the reasons for the restrictions and the consequences of non-compliance. The department’s communications team conducts regular surveys to assess awareness of its public communications. The department is focussing on developing its relationship with Dover Port Health Authority and establishing a revised strategic approach to the issue of illegal meat imports via the Short Straits. As part of this, the department will draw on the expertise of the operational staff at Dover to better understand the seizure data. The department is now actively considering increases to the funding for Dover Port Health Authority to improve operational coverage to tackle illegal meat imports. Funding decisions will take account of preventing the costs of major disease outbreaks. Border Force is funded by the Home Office. APHA sought views and opinions from relevant experts in 2025, to improve estimates of illegal meat imports. It aims to publish details of the new methodology in early 2026 with data analysis to follow at the end of 2026.