Watch an animation from Scotland’s Centres of Expertise, on the risks of bringing animal and plant products into Great Britain from abroad.
Personal imports of animal and plant products into Great Britain can spread harmful diseases that threaten plant and animal health.
Watch the Animation
EPIC, the Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks, and Scotland’s Plant Health Centre (PHC) have launched a new video animation explaining the risks of bringing animal and plant products into Great Britain. It highlights the potentially devastating impacts that contaminated products can have on farming communities and the environment.
Special thanks to the team at Ping Creates for developing the animation and final video.
Rules to Keep Our Plants and Animals Safe
Rules and restrictions on bringing animal and plant products into the country are in place to prevent the potential spread of pests and diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), African Swine Fever (ASF) and important plant pathogens, protecting animal and plant health, ecosystems, rural livelihoods, the farming community, and food security. Learn about the latest rules at GOV.UK.
How Diseases Spread
Pests and diseases can easily be spread by human activities such as air travel. When contaminated plant or animal products are brought into the country, diseases can be spread unintentionally.
The following examples demonstrate how EPIC and PHC are working with Scottish Government to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks and prepare a response if an outbreak occurs.
Viruses like African swine fever can survive on pork products for up to six months. Contaminated products can continue to be a risk even after being disposed of responsibly.
Domestic or feral pigs can become infected with ASF if they come into contact with contaminated meat products or packaging. Feral pigs may scavenge contaminated food or packaging from bins and landfill sites, and can spread the virus through pig-to-pig contact. EPIC researchers are working to understand the disease risks associated with contact between feral and domestic pigs as well as investigating global pathways for the spread of ASF.
To protect animal health, leave food or animal products behind before flying to Great Britain.
Plant products can unknowingly bring in pests that threaten local agriculture, ecosystems and food security. The potato famine was caused by an American plant pathogen, and over 100 pests and diseases have been identified as a threat to the potato industry in the UK.
PHC’s recent work has focused on Potato Cyst Nematode, Root-Knot Nematode and potato viruses. To protect plant health, buy plant products for your garden from local retailers, to ensure they are healthy and locally sourced or Plant Healthy certified. Learn more about PHC’s work and ongoing projects.
What You Can Do to Prevent Disease Spread
The best practice is to be aware of the risks, think before you pack, and don’t bring animal or plant products back from abroad.