3rd report - Biosecurity at the border: Britain's illegal meat crisis

Select Committee

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee HC 1296 8 September 2025

Report Status Government responded

Conclusions & Recommendations 25 items (15 recs)

Source View on Parliament website

Government Response (AI assessment · 25 of 25 classified)

Accepted 3

Accepted in Part 11

Deferred 1

Rejected 4

Recommendations

15 results

3 Accepted in Part

Commission risk assessment and publish quarterly data on illegal animal product imports.

Recommendation

Defra should commission a risk assessment of the type published by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in 2004 for the import of contaminated meat and meat products into Great Britain and subsequent exposure of livestock. It should model the probable amount … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government agrees on the importance of assessing risks from illegal imports and improving data on seizures. They are working with agencies to understand existing data and improve its capture and sharing, but do not commit to quarterly publication of seizure data.

5 Accepted in Part

Compel travel operators and scale up Defra communications including a digital import tool.

Recommendation

Travel operators should be legally compelled to inform travellers of the rules for personal imports from the EU into GB. Defra must immediately scale up its communications to the public about personal import rules and reach a much broader audience. … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government partially agrees, stating existing law already requires operators to inform travellers, and Defra continues to communicate import rules, including targeted campaigns and reminders. However, it rejects developing a digital tool for travellers, deeming it not cost-effective, and has no current plans to legislate further in this area.

7 Rejected

Consult on and introduce a permanent, straightforward personal import policy for EU products.

Recommendation

Defra must consult on a permanent personal import policy for the EU by April 2026. It should prioritise safeguarding British farms and should be straightforward enough to be understood by travellers and to be enforced. The current temporary ban on … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government rejects the recommendation to consult on a permanent personal import policy for the EU, stating they have no current plans to do so due to the deferral of personal import rules until 2027 and the implications of the SPS Agreement.

9 Acknowledged

Design a strategy to reduce demand for illegally imported products and engage communities.

Recommendation

Defra should work with the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland to design a strategy to reduce demand for illegally imported products. Defra must further consider how to engage with Eastern European communities in Great Britain to raise awareness … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government acknowledges the importance of reducing demand for illegally imported products but states demand-side factors are not fully understood, prioritizing other immediate issues. They mention past and ongoing communication campaigns related to import restrictions, but do not commit to designing a new specific strategy or engagement plan as requested.

11 Accepted in Part

Create a collaborative strategy for POAO smuggling and establish formal information sharing mechanisms.

Recommendation

By January 2026, Defra should create a strategy for POAO smuggling in collaboration with the National Food Crime Unit (FSA), the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (FSS), port health authorities, inland local authorities and Border Force. To be effective, … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government partially accepts, committing to develop a revised strategic approach for the Short Straits as an initial step, which may lead to a wider UK-wide strategy later. They are also working to improve existing inter-agency intelligence sharing networks but do not commit to a specific deadline for the full strategy.

12 Rejected

Responsibility for tackling illegal meat imports is fragmented, lacking clear ownership and leadership.

Recommendation

There is currently no identifiable or effective ownership of the issue of illegal meat imports. Responsibility is so fragmented across agencies that outdated, inefficient ways of working have been allowed to persist and the scale of the crisis has been … Read more

Government Response Summary

The Government does not accept the recommendation to establish a bespoke taskforce, believing adequate oversight can be achieved through existing routes.

13 Rejected

Establish a taskforce for illegal imports of animal products, led by the Minister for Biosecurity.

Recommendation

A taskforce for illegal imports of animal products should be established by November 2025, led by the Minister for Biosecurity, to provide oversight of the strategy’s design and implementation and to drive improvements. The taskforce should at least include the … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government rejects establishing a taskforce for illegal imports, deeming it disproportionate in the immediate short term. They intend to focus on a revised strategic approach for the Short Straits with existing partners and may revisit the recommendation later.

14 Accepted in Part

Local authorities are overlooked and under-supported in tackling illegal POAO imports.

Recommendation

Local authorities are a key partner in tackling illegal POAO imports but are being overlooked and under supported by Defra. (Conclusion, Paragraph 44)

Government Response Summary

The government will consider integrating representatives of port health and local authorities into the working group on illegal imports to draw on their enforcement expertise and ensure that any proposals emerging consider workforce implications, as part of work on a new strategic approach to the Short Straits.

15 Accepted in Part

Integrate local authorities into formal intelligence networks and review their POAO smuggling workforce needs.

Recommendation

Local authorities should be integrated into formal information sharing and intelligence networks. The illegal imports taskforce should review the workforce needs of local authorities in relation to POAO smuggling. The taskforce should consider whether regional expert contacts would be an … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government partially agrees, rejecting the establishment of a specific taskforce but committing to integrate port health and local authority representatives into an existing intelligence working group. The precise approach and regional expert contacts will be developed as part of the new strategic approach to the Short Straits.

17 Accepted in Part

Grant port health authorities stop, search, seize powers and funding for animal product border enforcement.

Recommendation

Port health authorities should be given stop, search and seize powers in relation to animal products and funding for enforcement presence at the border in relation to personal imports for the EU and rest of world. With the introduction of … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government partially accepts, stating that port health authorities already have search and seize powers but declining to extend Border Force detention powers. They will discuss DPHA's proposals and consider staff redeployment as part of initial work focused on the Short Straits.

19 Rejected

Require Defra to implement a plan for fining and prosecuting repeat animal product smugglers.

Recommendation

Defra must deliver a plan to immediately start fining and prosecuting repeat offenders and those who are attempting to smuggle significant amounts of animal products. (Recommendation, Paragraph 46) The Port of Dover

Government Response Summary

The government rejects the recommendation for a Defra-led plan to fine and prosecute offenders, stating that enforcement powers do not sit with Defra. They encourage enforcement authorities to use existing sanctions and will work with relevant agencies to consider options to enhance enforcement at the Short Straits.

21 Accepted

Require Government to lead effective mutual restoration of Defra and DPHA relationship.

Recommendation

This Government must lead an effective, mutual restoration of that relationship, which is of strategic importance to the UK’s security and trade. (Recommendation, Paragraph 60)

Government Response Summary

The government accepts the recommendation, committing to restoring its relationship with DPHA. They have held frequent official meetings, a Minister's visit is planned, and £3.1m in agreed funding for 2025/26 operations is being transferred.

22 Accepted in Part

Insufficient DPHA operational coverage and defunded vets undermine biosecurity at Dover.

Recommendation

In the absence of an effective deterrent for meat smuggling and within the context of high rates of non-compliance with import rules, 20% operational coverage for DPHA’s anti-meat smuggling operations is insufficient. Defra’s decision to cease funding for official veterinarians … Read more

Government Response Summary

Defra and DPHA have resolved the immediate issue relating to the use of official veterinarians and Defra is content that DPHA should be able to determine how best to staff the service they provide. Defra is in active and positive discussions with DPHA regarding the provision of funding for financial year 2026/27, including consideration of an increase in funding beyond current levels.

23 Accepted in Part

Provide emergency funding to double DPHA's operational coverage and reinstate official veterinarians.

Recommendation

The Committee has recommended that POAO enforcement powers and funding be transferred to port health authorities; in any interim period, emergency funding should be provided to at least double DPHA’s operational coverage at the border and should allow for the … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government partially accepts, clarifying that port health authorities already have enforcement powers and the issue regarding official veterinarians is resolved. They are in discussions with DPHA regarding increased funding for 2026/27 but cannot commit to specific levels or an unbudgeted immediate increase for the current financial year.

25 Accepted in Part

Repurpose Bastion Point to support enforcement, improve worker safety, and upgrade port facilities.

Recommendation

Defra should work with DPHA to consider how the space available at its Bastion Point site could be repurposed to support with enforcement activities and relieve pressure at the port. Defra should conduct a cost- benefit analysis of repurposing Bastion … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government partially accepts, committing to work with DPHA to explore repurposing Bastion Point and to provide the outcome of a cost-benefit analysis. They will ensure health and safety impacts are considered in future funding discussions with DPHA, but do not explicitly commit to all requested improvements or engagement on facility renovation.

Conclusions (10) Observations and findings — click to expand

1 Conclusion Acknowledged

Animal disease threats like foot and mouth disease and African swine fever are a national security issue and must be understood as such across Government. Although it is not possible to prevent all contaminated animal products entering Great Britain, the Government must take all possible steps to reduce the risk …

Government Response Summary

The Government shares the Committee’s concerns about illegal imports of meat and dairy products into England and the potential risks posed to animal health and food safety and is working closely with the Home Office and the Food Standards Agency to tackle this issue.

2 Conclusion Acknowledged

Consumers deserve confidence that the food they are buying is safe and meets high welfare standards, and British farmers should not be undercut by cheap, poor quality animal products. We need to understand more about the nature and scale of illegal imports of animal products, and their destinations in Great …

Government Response Summary

The government agrees on the importance of assessing illegal import risks and improving data transparency, noting that current data is fragmented. They are working with agencies to understand seizure data and improve its capture and sharing, but do not commit to regular publication.

4 Conclusion Accepted

Defra’s ban on personal imports of most animal products from the EU, introduced in April 2025, is a welcome simplification and strengthening of the rules. However, there is not yet enough public awareness of the restrictions or the reasons for them. (Conclusion, Paragraph 28)

Government Response Summary

The government partially agrees with the observation on public awareness, detailing existing and ongoing communication efforts including targeted campaigns and reminder communications. They note their attitude tracker results showing high awareness and have no plans for new legislation or digital tools.

6 Conclusion Deferred

Under successive governments, Defra’s approach to personal imports from the EU since 2021 has been unnecessarily lax, too reactive and overly complicated. Temporary personal import rules create confusion for travellers, uncertainty for farmers, and difficulty for enforcement professionals. (Conclusion, Paragraph 29)

Government Response Summary

The government states it has deferred permanent personal import rules from the EU until January 2027 and currently has no plans to consult on a permanent policy. It notes existing temporary safeguard measures are in place to address biosecurity risks.

8 Conclusion Acknowledged

Demand for cheap meat and culturally preferred products is fuelling the influx of illegal imports to Great Britain. (Conclusion, Paragraph 30)

Government Response Summary

The government notes the conclusion regarding demand for cheap and culturally preferred products fueling illegal imports but believes demand-side factors are not fully understood. They refer to past and ongoing communications campaigns related to import restrictions.

10 Conclusion Acknowledged

The Committee supports the Government’s commitment to “do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot and mouth”. The Committee welcomes efforts made so far, but concludes that there is more that Defra 36 could and should be doing to prevent animal diseases like foot and mouth and African …

Government Response Summary

The Government shares the Committee’s concerns about illegal imports of meat and dairy products and the risks posed to animal health and food safety. Defra is working with the Home Office and the Food Standards Agency to tackle this issue, with the support of Border Force, port health authorities, local authorities and the Devolved Governments.

16 Conclusion Accepted in Part

Border Force is not adequately fulfilling its responsibility to enforce personal import rules relating to animal products; it has too many competing priorities and officers lack understanding of product of animal origin (POAO) rules and seizures. Border Force and port health authorities have shown that they can work well together …

Government Response Summary

The Government partially accepts this recommendation. They state that Port health authorities already have enforcement powers and they are not planning to extend these powers but that Defra and DPHA have resolved the immediate issue relating to the use of official veterinarians and Defra is content that DPHA should be able to determine how best to staff the service they provide. Defra is in active and positive discussions with DPHA regarding the provision of funding for financial year 2026/27, including consideration of an increase in funding.

18 Conclusion Acknowledged

There is currently no effective deterrent to meat smuggling and smugglers are operating with impunity as a result. Defra’s proposal to crush vans carrying illegal imports is not a silver bullet for this issue and may be challenging to practically implement at the border. (Conclusion, Paragraph 46)

Government Response Summary

Defra encourages enforcement authorities to utilize the current suite of sanctions available for repeat offenders and egregious breaches, as far as it is practicable to do so. The government does not agree that a Defra-led plan for fining and prosecution of repeat offenders would be a suitable solution but intend to focus initial work on a new strategic approach to tackling the issue of illegal meat imports at the Short Straits.

20 Conclusion Accepted

Under the previous Government, there was an unacceptable breakdown of trust, communication and cooperation in the relationship between Defra and Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) to the detriment of national biosecurity. (Conclusion, Paragraph 60)

Government Response Summary

The Government accepts the recommendation and is committed to restoring the relationship with DPHA. Defra Directors met with DPHA officials in July 2025 and have continued to engage since. Defra is in the process of transferring the agreed £3.1m to DPHA to fund operations alongside Border Force for the financial year 2025/26.

24 Conclusion Accepted in Part

The space and facilities at the Port of Dover are not suitable for seizing high volumes of potentially contaminated meat. Defra needs to think creatively about how it can tackle this unprecedented challenge at the Short Straits, rather than being constrained by the boundaries of existing enforcement arrangements. (Conclusion, Paragraph …

Government Response Summary

The government partially accepts, committing Defra to explore options for repurposing space at Bastion Point, provide a cost-benefit analysis, and consider health and safety impacts in future funding discussions with DPHA.