In light of an ongoing epidemic of African Swine Flu (ASF) currently affecting animals in many European countries, Horsham District Council is making the public aware of new constraints on bringing pork and pork products back into the UK following their travels.
DEFRA implemented the new rules in September which restricts personal imports of such products from the EU, the European Free-Trade area (EFTA), Greenland and the Faroe Islands and now means that travellers are no longer able to bring any non-packaged pork into the UK.
All pork and pork products from the affected areas being brought in must have been produced, packaged and be appropriately labelled by a commercial establishment in the relevant country; and then is still limited to a maximum of 2KG of pork products per person in total. This also includes any animal by-products that may have come from the porcine species, but even further requirements have been placed on these items.
Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste Cllr Jay Mercer explained:
African Swine Flu is a highly contagious and deadly disease in pigs and wild boar that can be transmitted through infected meat, although it poses no risk to human health. The new rules on personal imports are important for residents of the District to be aware of, as they will help protect UK livestock by mitigating the spread of the disease across borders and into the UK.