NFU welcomes illegal meat import controls review - UK - The NFU has welcomed the announcement by the National Audit Office (NAO) that it will undertake a value-for-money study into HM Customs and Excise’s role in investigating and halting illegal meat imports.

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The NFU has agreed to contribute to an advisory group created to provide technical expertise and guidance for the duration of the study.

NFU food law spokesman Michael Seals will represent the organisation at the advisory group, which meets for the first time on 30 April 2004. The full NAO report is due for publication in January 2005.

HM Customs and Excise was given responsibility for policing illegal meat imports in April 2003, following a Cabinet Office review.

This review adopted many of the recommendations made by an NFU report, published after the 2001 FMD outbreak, that called for an integrated approach to combating illegal meat imports.

Michael Seals said: “This review is very good news. HM Customs and Excise were tasked with a very important role and have performed admirably but it is important to monitor the situation and look for improvements.”

Source: National Farmers Union - 26th April 2004