NFU Cymru praises crackdown on illegal meat imports

NFU Cymru has praised HM Customs & Excise for their success in clamping down on illegal meat imports. Over 55,000kg of meat and 41,000kg of fish were seized by Customs in the last nine months, more than in the whole of 2002/3. Customs took over responsibility for anti-smuggling controls on illegal imports of meat and other animal products imported directly from non-EU countries in April 2003, from Defra.

Such high levels of illegal meat will carry disease risks not only towards animals but the population as a whole, highlighting the need to drastically improve the UK's port controls, a fact NFU Cymru has highlighted for the last two years, along with the need for continued vigilance. NFU Cymru's President, Peredur Hughes said, "NFU Cymru has lobbied very hard for the government to take the threat of illegal imports seriously and the high level of seizures proves that the agricultural industry and the government were right to take the threat seriously." "This report is good news for the industry and we hope to see continued progress towards stopping illegal imports into the country".