Government issues statement on travel restrictions as latest country hit by outbreak revealed – and ‘food ban’ continues
Officials today issued an update regarding restrictions on passengers bringing food into the UK by air. Since April last year, travellers risk having items confiscated at the UK border and could potentially face fines of up to £5,000.
The restrictions have been implemented due to a foot and mouth disease outbreak across Europe. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has prohibited items including sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats and milk from being brought into Great Britain.
And in a new update today travellers to Greece have been warned a new outbreak has been discovered there. The latest news means rthat the ban on all food items – including those bought at duty free – will remain in place even longer. The UK government has taken action and has applied restrictions on certain Greek commercial imports to Great Britain.
Commercial imports of milk, colostrum and their products including feta and yoghurt are only permitted where the products have undergone the required heat treatment and are accompanied by the mandatory health certificate. The
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said travellers are banned from bringing cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from EU countries into Great Britain for personal use. This followed a rise of disease cases across mainland Europe. All travellers are urged to ensure they are not bringing these products into the country.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said: “A case of Foot and Mouth disease has been confirmed in Greece, we are in contact with our European counterparts to understand the latest situation.
“Robust plans are already in place to minimise the risk of disease incursion to support Britain’s farming community and food security.
“Livestock keepers are urged to continue exercising the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.”
Labour MP Ben Goldsborough has raised concerns in a parliamentary written question about whether sufficient action is being taken to alert the public. He asked Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Emma Reynolds: “If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of funding public awareness campaigns, including advertisements at airports and ports, on (a) foot and mouth disease and (b) African swine fever.”
DEFRA minister Dame Angela Eagle outlined the comprehensive measures recently undertaken to publicise the prohibition: “Biosecurity is a priority for this Government. To protect UK farmers and animals from serious diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease and African Swine Fever, we used the Christmas period as an opportunity to remind the public about the personal imports ban on travellers from the EU and EEA countries bringing dairy and meat products to GB, that came into force last year.”
She added: “This included promoting awareness of the rules to the travelling public and extending our reach through partnership channels across Government and with industry. Our insights survey results indicate that over 90% of respondents are aware that they should not bring back meat and dairy products from these countries.”
Dame Angela continued: “Any decisions on funding paid campaigns will be made based on the current threat level, evidence of effectiveness and available resources, ensuring maximum impact in protecting UK biosecurity.
