UK: Record illegal meat seizures at Dover, as illegal pork also found at Harwich
The Dover Port Health Authority seized just under 8.5t in January 2024 and 24.5t in January 2025. The previous monthly record was 20t in September 2025.
DPHA announced in Novermber that total seizures at the port since September 2022 had surpassed 300t, a figure that has grown signifcantly since then.
DPHA is still waiting on its funding settlement from Defra for 2026/27 to carry out this vital work. Dover District Council Leader Kevin Mills has called for ‘increased staffing’ at the port and for recommendations from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on the illegal meat crisis, published in September, to be taken on board by the Government, the BBC reports.
EFRA chair Alistair Carmichael said the consequences for not tackling the issue ‘could be dire’. following recent outbreaks of ASF and FMD in continental Europe.
Defra said the government was ‘fully committed’ to protecting biosecurity and the farming industry and that it had secured £3.1m for DPHA for 2025/26.
Illegal pork seized at Harwich in January
Harwich’s Port Health Team seized nearly 300kg of illegal imported pork last month, after working with Border Force.
Illegal pork was found entering the UK from a country in Europe on two occasions in January. The products were seized after being hidden in foil and packed into suitcases via a courier service. All seized products were safely handled and destroyed in line with regulations.
The authority said: “Strict biosecurity rules ban personal imports of meat and dairy from some EU countries to help prevent serious diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease and African Swine Fever.”
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