September 5, 2022

UK strengthens requirements for pork entering Great Britain from EU

The United Kingdom has imposed a new control that will strengthen the requirements for the delivery of pork and pork products into Great Britain from the European Union and European Free Trade Association states.

The new control came into force on September 1. It will no longer be legal to bring pork or pork products weighing over two kilogrammes, unless they are produced to the EU's commercial standards. This does not apply to commercial imports, which remain unaffected by the control.

This action comes following the publication of a new risk assessment conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, which recognises that the chance that the ASF virus may be brought into the UK stands at "medium risk". It found that the most likely way the virus could be introduced to Great Britain is by a member of the public bringing pork or pork products back from an ASF-affected country.

The new measure is thus expected to limit potentially infected pig meat from being brought into Great Britain through various means, such as in passengers' luggage or vehicles.

- UK Government