The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) today issued a reminder to holidaymakers travelling abroad not to bring any animal or plant products back into Northern Ireland.
Imports of meat or meat products, milk and other dairy products are banned from most countries outside the EU. There are also strict controls on animal products that can be brought in from the EU. Always check the rules before travel and refrain from bringing back animal products or plants that may be carrying pests or disease. Illegal products will be seized and destroyed. Furthermore, anyone detected to be in possession of prohibited items risks prosecution and a fine. Please do not bring any of these products back to Northern Ireland.
There is currently a specific concern over the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), which is largely attributed to pigs consuming contaminated pork or pork products. ASF is a highly contagious and usually fatal viral disease of pigs which is having disastrous impacts on the pig industries in Europe and Asia. Although the disease does not affect humans and there is no food safety risk associated with meat, an outbreak in Northern Ireland would have a devastating impact on our pork and pig industries. It would severely affect pig welfare and the ability to trade internationally in pigs and pork products.
The economic consequences of a domestic ASF outbreak are estimated to be major, with the total costs of an outbreak in commercial pig premises in the UK estimated at approximately £120 million. There would also be considerable implications for animal health and welfare, not to mention the potential mental health impacts for their keepers.
Movement of people and vehicles represent likely risk pathways for the ASF virus and is a known cause of the continued spread in Europe. The virus survives well in both raw and cured meats and personal imports of pork products in passenger luggage may be discarded in areas where domestic pigs could ingest it.
Please assist in protecting Northern Ireland against the risk of introducing ASF through contaminated pork meat or pork products in passenger luggage or vehicles.
The message is very simple if you are returning from holiday - ‘Don’t risk it - leave it behind!’
Notes to editors:
- The import of meat, dairy products, and other animal products is banned from most countries outside the EU, and there are also strict controls on such products from EU countries.
- Across the EU there is significant concern over the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly contagious and usually fatal viral disease of pigs. ASF has caused significant damage to the pig industries in Europe and Asia, resulting in the death of millions of pigs.
- While ASF does not affect humans and poses no food safety risk, an outbreak in the UK would have devastating consequences for the pork and pig industries, including animal welfare and trade.
- Outbreak of Classical Swine Fever (a similar variant) occurred in 2000 and was caused by imports of contaminated pork products.
- 75,000 pigs were culled for disease control purposes resulting in compensation of £4.4 million paid for the animals slaughtered.
- An outbreak of ASF in the UK would have significant economic consequences and considerable implications for animal health and welfare.
- The movement of people and vehicles is a known pathway for the spread of the ASF virus, as it can survive in raw and cured meats.
- Recent data shows high levels of non-compliance with biosecurity rules on animal products in personal baggage at UK borders.
- Therefore, the message to holidaymakers is clear: "Don't risk it - leave it behind" to protect the UK's borders from the introduction of ASF through contaminated pork meat or products in passenger luggage or vehicles.
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- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9052 4619.
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