“One member, for example, has got 30 or so drivers at [the border control post] Sevington waiting to turn around but can’t get the certification that lets them do that,” Challenger added. “They’ve managed to get one sorted but still 30 to go. The government implied that drivers should be able to do a U-turn and go home but it’s not as easy as that.”
“Then, on the flipside, you’ve also got products that were delivered earlier in the week or last week which are now in storage and they are unsure about what to do next because it’s unclear from government advice who is responsible,” he said.
Traumatic memories
The German outbreak will bring back traumatic memories for the U.K. farming industry, which was devastated by an outbreak of the disease in 2001, with over 2,000 farms affected and more than 6 million animals slaughtered, costing the government billions.
While the disease does not pose any risk to humans, it is highly contagious among cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals, with symptoms including sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue.
Nan Jones, technical policy manager at the British Meat Processors’ Association (BMPA), said she had also heard reports of meat being held up at the border.
“But I think there is more of a concern around foot-and-mouth disease entering the country and the action being taken there,” she added. “This is a fast moving disease, therefore once it has entered [the U.K., it] is extremely hard to control.”
