Customs will "disrupt, detect and seize"
UK - Customs and Excise are setting up four new "strike teams" to tackle the continued inflow of illegal meats. The teams will be deployed in areas of greatest risk.
21 May 2003
2 minute read
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National
Pig Association  THE VOICE OF THE UK PIG INDUSTRY NPA is active on members' behalf in Brussels & White-hall, and with pro-cessors, supermarkets & caterers – fighting for the growth and pros-perity of the UK pig industry. |
All Customs staff have been briefed on a policy of "disrupt, detect and seize". They have made 800 seizures of illegal meat products since taking over responsibility for smuggling prevention on 11 April and are currently looking at publicity to deter smuggling.
NFU have highlighted the need for the following actions:
- Effective intelligence gathering and continued risk assessment work.
- A testing programme for seized meat to gather data on levels of infection.
- Focussed enforcement activity at the retail end of the chain and gain better understanding of the drivers for illegal meat trade.
- Targeted checks on commercial trade (in addition to checks on personal baggage).
- Assessment of the challenges for import control posed by EU expansion and consistency of controls on non-animal products across the EU.
