Food: Import Controls
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department first knew about the 7 day delay to changes in the IPAFFS IT system, following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Germany.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
We do not recognise the assertation that there was a delay in controls being implemented. The department acted quickly to stop consignments that presented a risk.
Following the confirmation of outbreak, we immediately instructed Port Health Authorities (PHAs) across Great Britain to suspend susceptible FMD imports that posed a risk to UK biosecurity. Additionally, we immediately informed border authorities, including Dover Port Health Authority and businesses, with the first communications issued at 17:42 and 21:00 on 10 January, and implemented measures to suspend commercial and personal imports of commodities from susceptible animals.
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