July 23, 2024

Swine farmers in Scotland, UK, demand stricter border checks amid ASF concerns

Swine farmers in Scotland, UK, are calling for stronger assurances that border checks on meat imports from the European Union (EU) are being properly conducted as African swine fever (ASF) cases reach a 10-year high, STV News reported.

Farmers stress that the disease would devastate herds in Scotland and are urging the new UK government to ensure that controls are strictly enforced.

Roderic Bruce, chair of Scottish Pig Producers, said ASF must be prevented from entering the country because Scotland's export markets will close.

To date, there have been no confirmed ASF cases in the UK, but its spread across the EU is causing concern among Scottish farmers.

Andy McGowan from Quality Meat Scotland said, "We're getting worrying reports that these checks are just not happening. What we're really worried about is African swine fever because it directly or indirectly killed a quarter of the world's pig populations. Some 90 countries are grappling with this, 14 of them in the EU, so it's critical that we stop meat that may be carrying it from entering this country."

Post-Brexit checks on pork products were delayed five times before being implemented at the end of April. The UK Government asserts that it is not complacent about stopping the spread of African Swine Fever and is working closely with port authorities and the UK Border Force to ensure robust controls are enforced.

The Scottish Government recently announced more than GBP 400,000 (US$516,000) in funding to improve biosecurity among herds.

-      STV News