September 30, 2024

 

UK announces new measures to protect swine farmers from ASF

The UK has introduced new regulations aimed at protecting swine producers from the threat of African swine fever (ASF) as the disease continues its spread across Europe, New Food reported.

 

In June, Poland and Germany reported their first ASF outbreaks of 2024, with a notable increase in cases in the Baltic states over the summer.

 

The newly announced safeguarding rules are designed to prevent the disease from reaching UK livestock.

 

To protect the UK swine farming industry, personal imports of pork and pork products from the European Economic Area (EEA), the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Switzerland will be banned from September 27, 2024. This ban applies unless the products are manufactured and packaged to EU commercial standards and weigh less than 2 kg.

 

Individuals caught illegally importing pork or pork products may face fines of up to £5,000 in England. Any such products will be confiscated and destroyed upon entry to the UK.

 

Several other countries, including Australia, Japan, the European Union, New Zealand, and the US, already have similar restrictions in place regarding the personal import of pork and pork products.

 

In a statement issued earlier today, UK Biosecurity Minister Baroness Hayman of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "African swine fever is a deadly disease wreaking havoc across Europe. These new measures will protect British pig farmers and pork products, preventing infected meat from entering the UK and threatening our biosecurity."

 

Defra also announced an investment of GBP 3.1 million (US$4.1 million) in the Dover Port Health Authority for 2024/25. This funding aims to support Border Force in addressing illegal meat imports, helping to prevent ASF from entering Great Britain.

 

Although the UK has never experienced an ASF outbreak, commercial meat imports are regularly inspected at the border to ensure that infected products do not enter the country.

 

However, an outbreak in the UK could have severe financial repercussions for the nation's GBP 8 billion (US$10.7 billion) swine industry, including its pork and pork product exports, which are valued at GBP 600 million (US$804 million) annually. Estimates suggest that an ASF outbreak could cost the UK between GBP 10 million (US$13.4 million) and GBP 100 million (US$134 million).