VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Food: Smuggling

Asked by Matt VickersConservativeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 27 May 2025UIN 53659

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the quantity of illegal food products that have entered the UK in the last six months.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

It is not possible to estimate the amount of illegal food products which have evaded border checks and entered the UK in the last six months. Data supplied by Border Force to the end of 2024 indicates that it detained and seized 137,000 kilograms of illegal animal products and 18,000 kilograms of illegal plants and plant products at the UK border in the last six months of 2024.

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