February 2, 2024

UK MPs raise concerns over biosecurity risks amid food check centre relocation

A group of UK Members of Parliament has expressed apprehensions regarding the potential escalation of disease risks in the country, particularly African swine fever (ASF), due to funding cuts and the relocation of a food check centre, BBC News reported.

The food import spot checks, previously conducted at the port of Dover, are being shifted 35 km inland to Sevington. Concurrently, a 70% reduction in funding for food checks has raised alarm among MPs, who warn of potential catastrophic consequences.

The decision to move spot checks inland, away from the port of entry, has triggered concerns among MPs, who argue that the Sevington facility's location poses significant biosecurity risks. The inland border facility requires vehicles to travel unsupervised across Kent, potentially compromising compliance and raising fears of disease transmission. MPs, led by environment, food, and rural affairs committee chairman Sir Robert Goodwill, question the geographic dislocation and the obligation of drivers to comply with the relocation.

Sir Robert also highlighted the proposed funding cuts, emphasising the Dover Port Health Authority's warning that such reductions could have a catastrophic effect on UK biosecurity. Port health officials have recently expressed concerns about the spread of diseases like ASF through illegal pork meat, with fears that existing checks are insufficient.

In a letter to the secretary of state, the committee chairman stressed the real and reasonable concerns surrounding the relocation of the inland border facility and the potential compromise of compliance and biosecurity. The committee's communication coincides with the implementation of new post-Brexit controls on food and farm imports, marking a critical juncture in addressing biosecurity risks associated with the movement and inspection of food imports.

The UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) responded, expressing confidence in the biosecurity measures at Sevington and the unchanged high standards of border controls in place to safeguard food and animal health safety.

-        BBC News