The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is today
inviting written evidence
submissionsto examine biosecurity measures for animal and
plant imports to the UK.
The call for evidence is the first of the Committee's new
inquiry on animal and
plant health.
Animal and plant diseases and pests have far-reaching impacts not
only on animal welfare and the environment, but also on supply
chains, agricultural and horticultural sectors, trade and human
health.
Through its focus on biosecurity at the border, the Committee
will examine the stringency of biosecurity controls as well as
their impact on international trade following the introduction of
new animal and plant health checks on goods from the EU last
year.
The inquiry comes amid continued concerns that large quantities
of illegal meat are being brought into the UK. In October, the
BBC reported that the amount of illegal meat seized by Border
Force officials alone doubled from almost 35,000kg in 2022/23 to
more than 70,000kg in 2023/24.
Illegal meat imports carry the risk of diseases including African
swine fever, which pose a serious threat to the UK agricultural
sector.
In their inquiry, MPs will investigate the efficacy of
biosecurity measures and what immediate improvements can be made
to personal and commercial import controls in advance of, or in
the absence of, a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) or veterinary
agreement with the EU.
Over the span of the Committee's broader inquiry on animal and
plant health, MPs will scrutinise the resourcing and work of the
Animal and Plant Health Agency and are also expected to examine a
range of topics including animal welfare, a potential SPS
agreement with the EU and skills and workforce planning in
relevant professions, such as the veterinary sector. Other topics
likely to be examined include threats to UK forestry and the
associated risk of ecosystem collapse, and the impact of pests,
diseases and biosecurity measures on farmers and the food supply
chain.
The Chair of the EFRA Committee, MP,
said:
“The biosecurity measures we have in this country are of the
utmost importance. Any weak points expose the UK to serious
risks, such as African swine fever, which would have catastrophic
consequences for the agriculture sector.
“In this inquiry, we are setting out to assess the adequacy
of our biosecurity measures and will consider what could be done
to strengthen biosecurity at the border.
“We want to hear from the wide range of stakeholders with an
interest in biosecurity, from the veterinary sector to the
agricultural, forestry and horticultural sectors, to workers and
businesses in the food and drink supply chain, and enforcement
bodies for welfare, standards and hygiene, such as local
authorities and port health authorities.”
Call for evidence
To inform its inquiry, the Committee invites written evidence
submissions on any or all of the below points, by 23:59 on
Wednesday 29 January.
- the adequacy of personal import controls on animals, plants
and their products and the enforcement of controls
- the adequacy of SPS controls on commercial imports, their
enforcement, and the impact on businesses
- the performance of Defra and its agencies (such as the APHA)
in delivering the Border Target Operating Model and communicating
and engaging with stakeholders
- how any concerns detailed in your submission may be remedied
(in advance, or in the absence, of an SPS agreement with the EU)
Written evidence can be submitted here.
