Calais standoff sees £650,000 of UK lamb seized

A race against time is unfolding at Calais after at least four UK refrigerated lorries loaded with high-quality lamb destined for Belgium and France, were seized and condemned by French border authorities.

They have told hauliers that the entire £650,000 worth of product must be destroyed in France – a decision which is being appealed by the UK abattoirs involved.

The lorries, held by Sivep, the French veterinary border inspection service, were stopped after inspectors reportedly found traces of wool on individual carcasses.

See also: Dover border facilities ‘inadequate’ Defra minister admits

This is despite the carcasses being stamped as fit for human consumption by meat inspectors in the UK, on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), who uphold some of the highest food and hygiene standards in the world.

But the hauliers have been blocked from returning the loads to the UK, meaning the abattoirs and transport operators have no control over what happens next or how large the final bill will be.

The owner of a large portion of the meat has offered for 400 carcasses to be returned to the UK and used for a charitable cause, rather than being destroyed in France.

Most of the carcasses belong to West Scottish Lamb, an export abattoir based in Carlisle. A second abattoir also has a lorry load of carcasses seized at Calais.

‘No control over export goods’

A spokesman for West Scottish Lamb said: “The UK government has effectively handed the French authorities the power to control our goods.

“If they don’t want to accept them into Europe, that’s their choice. But refusing to let those carcases – fit for human consumption – return to the UK is crazy.

“They hold all the power, and we’re completely helpless.”

One lorry load has already exceeded the viable time limit for chilled export meat, with others close behind.

“This standoff is crippling our business; we’re scared to move forward,” added the spokesman for West Scottish Lamb. 

“We need direct intervention from the UK government to resolve this matter and have power over our own export goods.”

M&M Kerr, the Scottish haulage company involved, described the situation as “an utter farce”.

“It’s a complete mess. We don’t understand why this is happening right now,” said a company spokesman.

‘Race against time’

Gareth Wyn Jones, a hill farmer based in North Wales and media personality, used his social media platforms to highlight the issue after being contacted by the affected companies.

He said: “It’s a race against time – every minute counts. These are top-quality British lambs, inspected to the highest standards in the world, and they’ve been held for days by the French government. It’s an absolute disgrace.”

He accused both the French and UK governments of failing exporters at a critical time just before Christmas.

“Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves should be protecting British businesses trying to make a living,” he said.

“Instead, we’re watching our meat get seized in France while lorry loads of illegal meat are allowed to drive straight into the UK with barely a check.”

One senior industry source went further, saying: “This feels political. If I buy something from you and don’t like it, I hand it back. I don’t burn it on site. That’s not trade – that’s trade war.”

With the condemned loads still in Calais and the clock ticking on product shelf-life, exporters are urging urgent intervention from the UK government to prevent a total loss and stop the situation spiralling into a wider trade confrontation.

Farmers Weekly has requested a comment from the UK government.