Meat inspectors are being urged to ensure lamb carcases are clean after French officials rejected £650,000 of exported UK sheepmeat.
The incident last month saw four lorryloads of British lamb returned to the UK from Calais after they were held at a French border control post because wool had been found on individual carcasses.
Defra chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss negotiated with the French authorities who agreed to release the consignments of lamb on condition that they were returned to the UK on 10 December.
National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker said: “This release has been made on the agreement that none of the product contained in these affected loads can be consigned to go back to the EU.”
Mr Stocker said he wanted to thank Ms Middlemiss personally for resolving the situation as quickly as they could. One processor had tens of thousands of pounds worth of lamb being held and was desperate for help to resolve the problem.
“I would add my plea to processors and exporters affected that absolutely no attempt is made to re-present any of the product contained in the affected loads for re-export,” said Mr Stocker.
It was important not to do anything to undermine agreements and trust, said Mr Stocker.
He added: “I would also make a plea to the Food Standards Agency that meat inspectors are fully aware of these risks and that they work with due diligence.”
Several refrigerated lorries containing meat from UK processors had been held at the French border, said Mr Stocker. They were stopped after inspectors reported traces of wool being found on individual lamb carcasses.
The carcasses had previously been stamped as fit for human consumption by meat inspectors in the UK, on behalf of the Food Standards Agency.
Export rules
This latest rejection of consignments follows reports from other exporters of rejected sheepmeat loads. Issues identified include parasitic damage to lungs and livers, and misalignment between the UK and EU on lead levels in offal.
Mr Stocker said the NSA was questioning whether the situation is politically driven and related to the renegotiation of trade rules. Either way, France was a crucial market for UK produced lamb processors and exporters were bound by the ruling.
“It is important all exporters take note of this incident and be aware that inspections at BCPs over the channel are very thorough and appear to have become even tighter than normal, and we should present no opportunity, or reasons, for rejections.”
“Defra will be discussing these issues with EU border control force with the aim of avoiding future disruption, but whether we like it or not they are the gateway to our marketplace.”