Pig manifesto targets illegal imports
21 May 2001
Pig manifesto targets illegal imports
By Alistair Driver
PIG farmers believe the next government must stamp out illegal meat imports to ensure there is no repeat of recent disasters that have plagued their industry.
In its Honest Food Manifesto, the National Pig Association (NPA) says politicians must to give British pig farmers a fair chance.
The unsubsidised British pig industry is going bankrupt, it says.
The next government must ensure that good-value British pigmeat – “produced honestly, safely and with a conscience” – continues to reach consumers.
Particularly urgent action is needed on imports, says the manifesto.
“Government must form a new agency to stop illegal imports of diseased meats, or put real resources into the existing mechanism,” it adds.
Two serious diseases – swine fever and foot-and-mouth – have entered the country in illegal imports in the last 12 months, the NPA believes.
Yet recent governments have paid no more than lip-service to policing the trade in illegal meat, claims the manifesto.
“The agencies responsible for food security are under-funded and demoralised,” the manifesto says.
Authorities should ensure all food entering the country complies with UK production rules, particularly its expensive welfare legislation.
“Many people have expressed concerns that UK and Europes headlong rush towards increased globalisation will lay us open to more trading discrepancies.”
The manifesto urges the government to employ legislation fairly so the UK is not disadvantaged against its European Union competitors.
If the next government continues to introduce unilateral constraints, more farmers will be forced to quit and more imports will come in, it warns.
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