Travellers Reminded Of Import Restrictions

Anyone travelling abroad this summer has been reminded to not bring any animal or plant products back into Northern Ireland.

Issuing the reminder, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said that imports of meat or meat products, milk and other dairy products are banned from most countries outside the EU. There are also strict controls on animal products that can be brought in from the EU. Always check the rules before travel and refrain from bringing back animal products or plants that may be carrying pests or disease. Illegal products will be seized and destroyed. Furthermore, anyone detected to be in possession of prohibited items risks prosecution and a fine. Please do not bring any of these products back to Northern Ireland.

There is currently a specific concern over the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), which is largely attributed to pigs consuming contaminated pork or pork products. ASF is a highly contagious and usually fatal viral disease of pigs which is having disastrous impacts on the pig industries in Europe and Asia. Although the disease does not affect humans and there is no food safety risk associated with meat, an outbreak in Northern Ireland would have a devastating impact on our pork and pig industries. It would severely affect pig welfare and the ability to trade internationally in pigs and pork products.

The economic consequences of a domestic ASF outbreak are estimated to be major, with the total costs of an outbreak in commercial pig premises in the UK estimated at approximately £120 million. There would also be considerable implications for animal health and welfare, not to mention the potential mental health impacts for their keepers.

Movement of people and vehicles represent likely risk pathways for the ASF virus and is a known cause of the continued spread in Europe. The virus survives well in both raw and cured meats and personal imports of pork products in passenger luggage may be discarded in areas where domestic pigs could ingest it.

Please assist in protecting Northern Ireland against the risk of introducing ASF through contaminated pork meat or pork products in passenger luggage or vehicles.

The message is very simple if you are returning from holiday - 'Don't risk it - leave it behind!'