Lorries skipping border checks is disease risk - MPs

"Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said this poses severe risks to UK livestock and plants from diseases circulating in Europe, such as African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease and the plant-harming Xylella bacteria. The committee said there was growing evidence a reputation for inadequate checks at Dover was leading to criminal gangs importing products that would not legally be sold on the continent."

"The committee's chairman, Alistair Carmichael, said Defra's evidence "paints a picture of a dysfunctional system", with "unchecked meat and plant products being let in through the front door." He added: "The risks to our livestock and plants are a disaster waiting to happen.""

"Data provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs shows a rise in so-called "drive-bys", where trucks have failed to turn up at Sevington due to a lack of enforcement. The data, taken across three sample months, shows that, in November 2025, 18% of flagged consignments of animal products were not taken to Sevington - up from 8% in August the same year."

Post-Brexit border checks on commercial vehicles at Dover occur 22 miles away at Sevington control post rather than at the port itself. Data shows increasing "drive-bys" where trucks fail to attend Sevington checks due to weak enforcement. In November 2025, 18% of flagged animal product consignments avoided checks, up from 8% in August. Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee warns this poses severe risks from European diseases including African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, and Xylella bacteria. Evidence suggests criminal gangs exploit inadequate checks to import products illegal on the continent. The committee chairman describes the system as dysfunctional and calls for improved enforcement until a new EU agreement is established.

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