Almost 100 tonnes of illegal meat seized at port

Almost 100 tonnes of illegal meat was seized at the Port of Dover last year, new data has revealed.

Pork, lamb, beef and chicken were among the 98,958kg of meat confiscated in 868 separate seizures at the port in 2024 – more than 75% up on the 56,089kg seized in 2023.

Dover Port Health Authority raised concerns over diseased meat getting into the food chain as a result.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the government would "never waver" in its duty to protect the UK's biosecurity.

According to data revealed in a Freedom of Information request, the 98,958kg of meat seized at the Port of Dover last year was drastically up from 3,899kg in 27 seizures in 2022.

Meanwhile, a total of 10 tonnes of meat was seized at the port in the first week of January.

Lucy Manzano, of Dover Port Health Authority, said the majority of seizures were from spot checks.

"Pulling vehicles over, it's from those vehicles that we're finding these huge and increasing volumes of illegal meat that is heading for our high streets," she said.

However, the authority said it could only pull over a small proportion of lorries arriving at the port for spot checks.

Under a scheme introduced by the previous government, other drivers receive text messages urging them to travel 20 miles (32.1km) to an inland border facility in Sevington, near Ashford, for their inspections.

But Ms Manzano highlighted the lack of controls between Dover and the facility.

"It's the same as arriving at the airport and not having your bags checked," she said.

Defra insisted that the Sevington site had all the resources it needed to make sure meat remained safe to eat and was free from disease.

"This government will never waver in its duty to protect the UK's biosecurity, and ministers are working closely with industry, trade partners and enforcement agencies to do so efficiently and effectively," a spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, a committee of MPs is to begin an inquiry into whether biosecurity measures at the UK's borders are fit for purpose.

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