In the media: Veterinary MP Dr Neil Hudson sounds Biosecurity alarm over illegal meat imports

Dr Neil Hudson MP was on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme in a news piece talking about the potential risks to our country from catastrophic animal diseases like African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth. The news piece was shining a light on the potentially devastating impact that illegal meat imports would have on farming, animal health, our economy and our environment.
Data obtained by a Freedom of Information Act showed that the amount of illegal meat seized by Border Force has more than doubled in a year despite the number of shipments remaining the same. There is therefore concern that large-scale smuggling is being conducted by organised criminal gangs.
The previous Conservative Government implemented the Border Target Operating Model, which came into effect earlier this year, but with growing seizures, Dr Hudson is urging the new Government to fully fund the necessary redevelopment of the Animal and Plant Health Agency HQ to avert the risk of a critical incident for the UK's biosecurity.
Dr Hudson has long campaigned on the issue of biosecurity, having been spurred into politics following the devastating 2001 Foot and Mouth Crisis where he served as a Veterinary Inspector.