Scotland calls for a ban on pork imports from ASF countries

In a letter to UK Secretary of Agriculture George Eustis, the Scottish Farmers' Association is calling for an immediate ban on pork imports from EU countries where ASF cases have been reported, Agra Europe (AgE) reports.

In the United Kingdom, concerns about the introduction of African swine fever (ASF) into the agricultural sector are very high. So now the Scottish Farmers' Union (NFU) has called on the government in London to forcefully impose an immediate ban on pork imports from EU countries where ASF cases have been reported. In addition to Germany, Belgium is explicitly mentioned, although the kingdom has long been officially ASF-free again, as well as Romania and Poland. In a letter to Agriculture Minister George Eustis, the NFU of Scotland called for immediate action. Otherwise, there is a high risk of bringing the virus into the country.

Scottish NFU President Martin Kennedy pointed to the lack of controls on EU pork imports to the UK. “At a time when there is a serious threat to biosecurity for our country, this cannot continue,” Kennedy stressed. According to him, ASF is rapidly spreading across Europe. The president of the association criticized the government, which has so far not taken any protective measures, fearing that this would violate trade and cooperation agreements.

Kennedy said that about 40% of the MEAT consumed in the UK is pork. According to preliminary data from the European Commission, between January and August 2021, about 113,000 tons of pork were delivered to the kingdom from Germany and 64,210 tons from Poland. Total imports from the Community, including live animals, amounted to 569,650 tons during the reporting period, of which pork and organ meats amounted to 566,380 tons.