Move to check up on imported pigmeat

A RISING tide of imports of pig meat is coming into the UK but much of it which claims to be produced to UK specifications is not. Figures produced in a report by the British Pig Executive (BPEX) reveal the number of pigs being produced abroad to UK specification is totally inadequate to meet the volume currently being imported. This means much of the imported pig meat, which is claimed to be produced to UK standards, cannot actually be. Over the last five years, imports have increased substantially and those imports are dominated by loin cuts and legs for further processing. BPEX Chairman Stewart Houston said: "As well as the issue about standards there is growing concern about accurate description of retail product both from the country of origin viewpoint and the accurate use of the British Meat Quality Standard Mark. "EFSIS*, which is responsible for auditing the British Meat Quality Standard Mark for pork, has been asked to draw up an enhanced protocol for auditing pork and pork products. "This is intended to be a much tougher auditing and traceability process than is currently used." Mr Houston said it would involve: random checks a more "forensic" approach probably taking a whole day in each premises both "backwards" tracing (a finished product back to the batch of

production) and forwards tracing (primal cuts traced forwards into finished retail product) auditing both QSM product and non-QSM product, including imports to ensure that pork and pork products are being described and labelled properly The report is being made available to the industry, stakeholders and to the government. Notes to editors: A copy of the report is available as a pdf file from the MLC Press Office. Between 1998 and 2002 total pig meat imports increased by 273,000 tonnes, or 34 per cent. In the first four months of 2003 there has been a further rise of 29 per cent in fresh and frozen pork compared with a year earlier

* EFSIS: European Food Safety Inspection Service