Calls grow to clamp down on biosecurity threat to UK following Alliance investigation

Urgent action has been demanded to protect the UK from a host of diseases with the potential to devastate British farming and jeopardise food supply, following a Countryside Alliance investigation. 

The recent investigation  uncovered evidence of widespread illicit smuggling of 'bushmeat',  including lizard, porcupine and African cane rats, into the UK via social media. 

Following the release of the investigation, published in the Daily Mail, calls for action are now growing increasingly louder, with the Shadow Defra Secretary, Victoria Atkins, sounding the alarm.  

Outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Germany and Hungary, as well as the “advance of African swine fever across Europe” are problems that come at a time when farmers are already wrestling with avian influenza and bluetongue virus in the UK. 

The term bushmeat covers wild mammals, reptiles and birds hunted in West and Central Africa, Asia and the Americas. While meat imported legally into the UK must pass stringent health checks to ensure it is safe, smuggled bushmeat dodges these. 

The Food Standards Agency advises consumers not to buy or eat bushmeat or other illegal meat, as it may be unsafe.

Experts have warned that it could be carrying serious infectious diseases, including foot-and-mouth, anthrax, the deadly ebola virus, TB or cholera. 

Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins has written to her opposite number in Government, Defra Secretary Steve Reed, pressing for assurances. 

She writes: “Defra’s own figures predict that African swine fever could cost the UK £100million, and there are concerns from the industry that this could be more and would be catastrophic for the UK pig sector. We already know foot and mouth disease in 2001 cost the UK £14.7billion in today’s prices.” 

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, Director of External Affairs at the Countryside Alliance, said: 

“We have already raised concerns about the illicit selling of foreign meat as well as bushmeat, as it can present a severe biosecurity threat that has the potential to devastate the livestock farming sector and destroy the wider rural economy 

“With foot and mouth disease and African swine fever a very real risk, and other diseases like avian flu and bluetongue already affecting livestock throughout the UK, it is crucial that the government take action now. 

“Farmers are already suffering because of recent political decision, from the sudden closure of the SFI scheme, to the recently announced Planning and Infrastructure, and, the devastating Family Farm Tax. 

“We need to safeguard our farmers. They are the bedrock of our rural economy, and are vital for the UK’s food security.”