Call to tackle meat smuggling

Port officials say stronger action is needed

The problem of illegal meat smuggling through British ports and airports needs to be tackled by new legislation, say health officials.

There has been speculation that smuggled meat may have been responsible for the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Mike Young, of the Association of Port Health Authorities (APHA), said an unknown amount of meat arrived in Britain illicitly, both in small amounts for gifts or personal use and on a larger scale for sale.

Some agency ought to be responsible for carrying out the checks

APHA

But no agency has specific responsibility for checking for the meat, which could be carrying viruses from countries in which animal diseases are rife, said Mr Young.

Need for controls

There are serious deficiencies in the current controls for preventing illegal meat from entering the UK, according to the APHA.

Importers of illegal meat can evade checks at UK ports by concealing them in containers with products such as fruit and vegetables which are subject to less frequent checks.

Mr Young told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We really don't know the full extent of the problem.

Foot-and-mouth may have been caused by illegall meat imports

"Some agency ought to be responsible for carrying out the checks on passengers coming into the country from high-risk countries, whether that is the Ministry of Agriculture, Customs or the PHAs."

He said he was not aware of any current legal powers to allow customs to search for such products.

Mr Young also suggested the meat discovered in fruit and vegetable consignments and in passenger baggage may only be "the tip of the iceberg".

Under current law, import of products of animal origin into the European Community from third countries is subject to the EC veterinary checks regime.

They are only permitted entry through approved Border Inspection Posts (BIPs).

Only products originating from sources and establishments approved by the European Commission, with the required veterinary certification and health marks can enter the territory of the European Union.