The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is inviting written evidence submissions to 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, Alistair Carmichael 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.”
