Meat exporters challenge new French border inspections
© Tim Scrivener Legal action by UK meat suppliers is being prepared to challenge new border inspections of meat carcasses destined for France.
Since 1 August, hauliers are being ordered to assist French Official Veterinarians during their inspections at the border by moving hanging carcasses around within trailers, or they risk being turned back.
See also: Calais standoff sees £650,000 of UK lamb seized
The UK meat industry trade body, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (Aims), has asked lawyers to challenge the “proportionality and practical implementation” of the new rule.
They have submitted legal documents to the French Directorate General for Food (DGAL) and SIVEP, France’s veterinary and phytosanitary border inspection office.
Executive director of Aims Dr Jason Aldiss says the new requirement has the potential to cause “significant disruption” to exports of British meat into the EU.
“Our priority is to protect the ability of UK exporters to trade efficiently while ensuring that any inspection requirements remain practical, proportionate and legally justified,” he said.
Aims insists there are “legitimate questions” around the proportionality of the new arrangements and whether they place “inappropriate operational burdens” on exporters and hauliers.
It is ready to challenge individual consignments if there are unjustified refusals and is preparing the basis for a complaint to the EU Commission if that is needed.
Previous tensions
It is not the first time there have been tensions between the UK and France over meat exports.
In December 2025, a £650,000 shipment of British lamb was seized at Calais after French border inspectors reportedly found traces of wool on individual carcasses, although they had been stamped as fit for human consumption by meat inspectors in the UK on behalf of the Food Standards Agency.
One of the four loads was stranded at Calais for three weeks before discussions between the UK and French chief veterinary officers unlocked the standoff.
