Record 34t of illegal meat seized at Port of Dover in January 2026

The Dover Port Health Authority seized just under 8.5 tonnes in January 2024 and 24.5 tonnes in January 2025. The previous monthly record was 20 tonnes recorded in September 2025. 

DPHA announced in November that total seizures of illegal meat at the port since September 2022 had surpassed 300 tonnes, a figure that has grown significantly since then. 

Dover District Council leader Kevin Mills has called for “increased staffing” at the port and for recommendations from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on the illegal meat crisis, published in September, to be taken on board by the government, the BBC reports. 

EFRA chair Alistair Carmichael said the consequences for not tackling the issue “could be dire”, following recent outbreaks of ASF and FMD in continental Europe. 

DEFRA confirmed that the government was “fully committed” to protecting biosecurity and the farming industry and that it had secured £3.1 million for DPHA for 2025/26. 

The NPA has urged the government to act on the findings of the EFRA report. 

READ MORE: Govt delays action on illegal meat imports until 2027 amid EU trade talks

Illegal pork seized at Harwich Port 

Harwich’s Port Health Team seized nearly 300kg of illegal imported pork last month, after working with Border Force. 

Illegal pork was found entering the UK from a country in Europe on two occasions in January. The products were seized after being hidden in foil and packed into suitcases via a courier service. All seized products were safely handled and destroyed in line with regulations. 

The authority said: “Strict biosecurity rules ban personal imports of meat and dairy from some EU countries to help prevent serious diseases like foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever.” 

READ MORE: Surge in illegal meat imports fuels food safety fears

Read more livestock news.