Action demanded to stop terrifying diseases reaching the UK
EXCLUSIVE: Diseases which could rampage through Britain's farms and jeopardise food supplies are on the loose in Europe, with illegal bushmeat being bought on social media
Urgent action has been demanded to protect the UK from a host of diseases with the potential to devastate British farming and jeopardise food supply. Outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Germany and Hungary and the “advance of African swine fever across Europe” come as farmers wrestle with the spread of avian influenza and bluetongue virus.
There is deep concern about the sale of “bushmeat” on social media and the potential of bovine TV to cause devastation. Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins has written to her opposite number in Government, Steve Reed, pressing for assurances.
She writes: “Defra’s own figures predict that African swine fever could cost the UK £100million, and there are concerns from the industry that this could be more and would be catastrophic for the UK pig sector. We already know foot and mouth disease in 2001 cost the UK £14.7billion in today’s prices.”
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She wants random inspections at the Port of Dover and has demanded assurances in a host of areas so the country’s biosecurity facilities are prepared to counter any threat.
A Government spokesman said: “We will do whatever it takes to protect our nation’s farmers and food industry from an animal disease outbreak.
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“That is why we’re investing more than £200 million to set up a new National Biosecurity Centre, working with Port Health Authorities to tackle the growth threat of illegal meat imports, and placed immediate restrictions on animal products from Germany, Hungary and Slovakia to prevent an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
“We will continue to work closely with industry, trade partners and enforcement agencies to protect our biosecurity.”
