The UK continues to tighten biosecurity controls to prevent African swine fever (ASF) entering the country — and illegal meat imports remain a key risk pathway.
What’s illegal?
– Bringing pork or pork products into Great Britain outside strict personal import rules (weight limits, commercial packaging, official health marks).
– Any unlabelled, homemade, or undeclared pork products.
– Feeding catering waste or meat scraps to pigs.
Current situation:
– Enforcement activity is increasing.
– Record volumes of illegal meat have been seized at UK ports in recent months, including large-scale interceptions at Dover Port Health Authority.
– In January 2026, UK authorities seized a record ~34 tonnes of illegal meat at the Port of Dover — the highest monthly total ever recorded (NPA).
– Government risk assessments continue to identify personal and illegal imports as the highest-risk route for ASF entry.
Why it matters:
ASF does not affect humans, but an outbreak would have severe economic consequences for the UK pig sector, trade, and rural supply chains.
Biosecurity is no longer just a farming issue — it’s a border control, food safety, and economic resilience issue.
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Written by Chris Eglington on