Will Meat Imports be Safe with Fewer Tests?
At a time when the British government is putting forward plans to clamp down on food fraud, there are concerns that the checking of imported food products from countries outside the EU will be relaxed.
Following the publication of the Elliott report into the horse meat scandal, the British government accepted the proposals being put forward including the establishment of a food fraud crime unit.
However, at the sharp end of the inspection of food imports – at the ports – the number of checks are expected to be reduced as the finance runs out for non-statutory inspections.
While the paper work and documentation will be checked for food products entering the UK from abroad, the number of samples taken to check whether the meat and food products contain excessive or banned residues will be reduced.
The cut in finance is part of the general cuts that were announced across government in response to the general financial crisis.
While some samples will be taken and the most dangerous residues will be targeted using a risk based matrix system of testing, the general number of tests will be reduced.
More of the onus will now be placed on processors and retailers to ensure that the products they are putting before consumers and wholesome and residue–free.
However, once the food products have entered the UK from countries outside of the EU, they will then be available for export across the whole of the EU in the free market.
Jon Averns the Port Health and Public Protection Director for the City of London Corporation said: “It’s going to be a conundrum at the ports,” told the recent open meeting of the Veterinary Residues Committee.
“We have relied on the checks at the port and we are not going to be able to go to the levels we want to when the non-statutory surveillance scheme ends.
“We are not going to be able to carry out the checks in the way we were.”
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