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One of the focuses of the inquiry is biosecurity at the UK’s international border.
In January 2025, an inquiry was launched into animal and plant health by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) – the Commons select committee that scrutinises the administration, spending and policy of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
One of the focuses of the inquiry is biosecurity at the UK’s international border and the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). On 4 February, MPs heard evidence from three witnesses as it examined ‘how effectively controls on personal and commercial imports are protecting the UK’s animal and plant biosecurity, food hygiene and public health’.
Giving evidence were: Helen Buckingham, chartered environmental health practitioner and regulatory consultant at OneResolution; Lucy Manzano, head of port health and public protection at Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA); and David Smith, South East regional director at Border Force.
This inquiry comes at a time of ‘unprecedented seizures’ of illegal meat by DPHA at the Dover border. In January 2025 alone, DPHA claims that it seized 25 tonnes of illegal meat – which it says is triple the amount seized in January 2024.
In December 2024, Tom Haynes, senior policy adviser at the National Pig Association, warned: “We are extremely concerned that vulnerabilities in the BTOM are now being exploited by criminal importers, with increasing quantities of illegal meat now entering the UK through the commercial route, in addition to the personal imports route.” Read more
Source: LOGISTICS MANAGER
