INFORMATION BULLETIN
Date: 23 July 2007
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960
Annual review of controls on imports of animal products: April 2006 - March 2007
The Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products 2006/07 has been published today.
This year’s Review highlights the progress that has been made and the main activities of Defra, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Food Standards Agency in combating illegal imports via enforcement, understanding the risks and raising public awareness.
Several other Government departments and agencies have also contributed to the control of imports of animal products, including Animal Health and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The latest figures show an increase in the number of seizures of illegally imported animal products on last year, with 35,001 seizures from 1 April 2006 – 31 March 2007. This reflects the enforcement measures in place, although it is recognised that these efforts must be maintained.
The Review also covers the legal controls in place to ensure that animal products from non-European Union (EU) countries meet EU veterinary import conditions.
It is illegal to bring meat and milk-based products for personal consumption into the United Kingdom (UK) from most countries outside the EU. There are also limits on bringing back other products including fish, shellfish, honey, eggs and egg products.
The Review can be viewed at:
www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/pdf/review0406-0307.pdf
For more information on what can and can’t be brought into the UK,
please visit:
www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/
End
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Page published: 23 July 2007