Concerns raised about fraud and safety risks related to UK import controls

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has voiced concerns about the United Kingdom’s new approach to import controls.

In a letter to Sue Hayman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), NFU president Tom Bradshaw said there is widespread industry concern around how border controls have been implemented.

Bradshaw reiterated NFU’s support of the government’s risk-based approach but warned that reports of the reality on the ground suggest problems.

NFU’s view
The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) is a new system for importing into Great Britain. The first stage, following multiple delays, came into force in January 2024.

The full regime will be introduced during this year, with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks on medium-risk food, animal, and plant products from the EU in force since April 30 and checks for live animals from the EU due to start in late 2024. Goods posing the highest biosecurity risk are being prioritized, with a build-up to full check rates.

“Livestock businesses must feel confident that border checks and controls safeguard the nation’s biosecurity and food safety and that sufficient resource is dedicated to stamping out fraud and illegal activity where that exists. We continue to be concerned that our nation faces a greater degree of risk relating to biosecurity and food fraud than is necessary or acceptable,” said Bradshaw.

For horticulture businesses, checks introduced in April shifted controls away from their companies to Border Control Points (BCP), adding risk and cost to a ‘just-in-time’ supply chain.

“BCPs are seen by the industry as a point of infection risk, rather than inspection. To date, growers have experienced long delays, meaning young plants and plant materials are being destroyed. Any delay transiting through the BCP could threaten businesses, food security, and biosecurity. Unfortunately, we are also hearing reports that consignments are being damaged due to inappropriate handling at the border,” said Bradshaw.

The letter also covered increased charges from European haulers and other costs related to establishing sites as control points. The NFU has asked to meet with Hayman to discuss the concerns raised by members.

Previously raised issues
In late July, the SPS Certification Working Group, which includes the NFU, wrote to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The group of 30 organizations said it was “deeply concerned” by threats to food security, biosecurity, and food safety due to issues with the BTOM. Members include the Chilled Food Association, British Poultry Council, Fresh Produce Consortium, and Provision Trade Federation.

Several topics were raised, including insufficient raw and cooked food separation to prevent cross-contamination, a lack of UK laboratory capacity, official veterinarian availability, and the variability in charges and limited opening hours of BCPs.

The Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) previously expressed concerns about locating the BCP at Sevington 22 miles from the point of entry to the UK at the port. DPHA also reported that funding for checks to find illegal meat imports and surveillance for diseases such as African Swine Fever has been reduced by up to 70 percent.

The working group asked what measures had been taken to minimize risks to biosecurity and public health in the Sevington situation. It also called funding cuts “wholly unacceptable.”

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/08/concerns-raised-about-fraud-and-safety-risks-related-to-uk-import-controls/