Illicit transportation of meat and dairy goods into the UK poses a risk of spreading serious illnesses

Illicit transportation of meat and dairy goods into the UK poses a risk of spreading serious illnesses

Amid a soaring cost-of-living crisis, tighter EU import restrictions, and the spread of animal disease in Europe, the U.K. faces the risk of a major disease outbreak from a surge in illegal meat smuggling, all in the absence of direct oversight of the issue.

Meat and dairy products are being smuggled into the United Kingdom in “alarming amounts,” raising the risk of a major disease outbreak, a parliamentary committee warned Monday.

In a report, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (Defra) said border officials seized 235 tonnes of smuggled animal products in 2024 across more than 2,600 incidents, with an average seizure of 158 kilograms. The true scale of the trade is likely far higher, it said, describing the seizures as “the tip of the iceberg.”

The committee linked the rise to animal disease outbreaks in Europe, which have disrupted domestic markets and prompted smugglers from countries such as Romania and Moldova to target the U.K. 

Brexit may also have contributed. The report noted that the introduction of border checks for commercial EU imports in April 2023 may have driven additional smuggling through passenger routes. Port health workers told the committee that individual smugglers are increasingly using personal import routes “as they do not want to pay the high port health charges, or the Common User Charge that Defra is collecting from legitimate importers.” The Common User Charge, introduced in April 2024, applies to certain animal and plant imports through Dover and the Eurotunnel, regardless of whether they are physically inspected, and is meant to cover the cost of operating border facilities.

Smuggled products are being sold online, door-to-door, in markets and shops, and even through hospitality venues, the report said. Lawmakers added that the cost-of-living crisis is fueling demand for cheaper, untraceable food. “There is a realistic possibility that some people will prioritise affordability and availability over quality and traceability,” a 2024 report by the National Food Crime Unit and the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit warned.

MPs said the risks extend beyond animal welfare, affecting “public health, food security, trade, economies, and livelihoods.” They also flagged the absence of a single authority responsible for tackling illegal imports, saying the situation has “escalated to an intolerable degree.” A disease outbreak caused by such products would be “challenging to trace, complicating the outbreak response,” the committee said.

The report urged the government to set up a dedicated taskforce on illegal meat and dairy imports by November 2025.