Committee publication · Correspondence · 25 March 2025
Correspondence from CPC Foods relating to the ban on German pork meat imports, dated 12 March 2025
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Animal and plant health
Summary
CPC Foods Ltd, UK subsidiary of German pork producer Premium Food Group, urges the EFRA Committee to pressure DEFRA to recognise regionalisation and lift the import ban on German pork following a single foot-and-mouth case in Brandenburg State in January 2025. The company argues the EU has already recognised regionalisation, epidemiological evidence supports it, and the continued UK delay causes substantial commercial harm and supply-chain disruption.
Key findings
- UK pork import restrictions from Germany in place since 10 January 2025 following single FMD case in Brandenburg State
- EU has formally recognised regionalisation, allowing trade from unaffected German areas to resume
- CPC Foods reports excessive commercial detriment, substantial financial losses, and supply-chain disruption from prolonged UK delay
- Company submits extensive epidemiological evidence as sufficient scientific foundation for regionalisation recognition
- Company requests immediate DEFRA update on review status and estimated timeline for final decision
Tone
AdversarialTopics
Key actors
CPC Foods Ltd, Premium Food Group GmbH, Alistair Carmichael MP, Emily Miles, Christine Middlemiss, DEFRA, European Union
Notable line
“The delay in the UK's decision - making process is resulting in excessi ve commercial detriment …”
Key Quotes
“These restrictions have been in place since January 10th, following a single, isolated case of foot and mouth disease in Brandenburg State. Notably, the European Union has formally recognised regionalisation in this matter, allowing trade from unaffected areas to resume.”
“The delay in the UK's decision - making process is resulting in excessi ve commercial detriment, including substantial financial losses and significant disruptions to the pork supply chain.”
“Given these commercial and economic implications, balanced against the weight of scientific evidence; we urge DEFRA to expedite its assessment and issue a determination regarding the recognition of regionalisation withou t further undue delay.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗