§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw)As required under the Animal Health Act 1981 the Government will publish today a review of controls on the import of animal products for the financial year 2003–04. We welcome the opportunity to report on progress made in the past year.
Seizures of illegally imported animal products have doubled in the past year. This has been delivered by continuing to follow the three key principles of:
evidence based policy;investment in enforcement; andsecuring better public engagement and awareness.Over the course of the year customs has built up its enforcement activity in relation to products of animal origin. There has been a sustained effort inland, at the borders, and overseas, to increase the travelling public's awareness of the restrictions relating to importing products of animal origin. The Food Standards Agency has also worked with local and port health authorities to achieve a step change in the enforcement of controls on imported food inland.
Also published today is an assessment of the risks of foot and mouth disease and certain pig diseases entering the country through illegally imported meat. This has been refined since last year when it only considered foot and mouth disease. The results of this are available at: http://www.defra.gov. uk/animalh/illegali/pdf/risk-assessmentO4 pdf
The Government will continue to develop their approach to managing the risk posed by illegal imports. Working with all agencies involved, we will continue to build on enforcement activity and work to raise awareness of the rules.
Copies of the review will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and on the DEFRA illegal imports website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/pdf/annual-review04.pdf
The risk assessment is available on the DEFRA illegal imports website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/pdf/risk-assessment04.pdf
Hard copies are available on request.