Repulsive images show rotten-looking illegally imported meat including pork and 54 sheep carcasses which were seized at a port.

The items were found at Dover in two vehicles travelling from Romania and also included cheese items dripping with blood, authorities say.

The cargo had been transported for several days in unhygienic conditions and unsuitable packaging such as incomplete domestic clingfilm, black sacks and duct tape.

The meat had also been carried without temperature controls and was cross-contaminating other food including pig parts, chicken and beef and cheese.

This was part of more than 3.4 tonnes of illegal meat seized by the Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) last Friday and Saturday.

It was the largest seizure this year so far and came just before new biosecurity checks, which began today.

DPHA says the seizure has highlighted the need for checks to remain at Dover rather than being moved to the Sevington Inland Border facility 22 miles away in Ashford.

To stop the potential spread of disease, the illegal meat was removed from the food supply chain.

It says the seizures are in the wake of increased concerns that African Swine Fever (ASF) - which was recently found in Sweden, Italy and Germany - could spread to the UK unless crucial border funding and services are maintained.

The disease is a threat to the UK’s pig herd.

Lucy Manzano, head of port health and public protection at DPHA, said: “These seizures demonstrate just how vital the work is of the Dover Port Health Authority when it comes to protecting British supply chains and biosecurity.

“Despite our limited resources, our inspection teams are fully committed to fighting off the threat of African Swine Fever and other lethal diseases that threaten livestock – seizing more than 85 tonnes of illegal meat since the checks were brought in from September 2022.”

DPHA says the record seizures follow concerns about recent government proposals.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has cut Dover District Council’s funding for African Swine Fever checks by almost 70% and moved commercial food checks for Dover and the Channel Tunnel to Sevington near Ashford.

It is the council that takes the role of the port health authority, meaning it is responsible for monitoring food imports.

Ms Manzano added: “Our position remains unchanged on Sevington and the catastrophic funding cuts to the African Swine Fever checks at Dover.

“At this crucial time, it is vital that Defra and the government consider the serious risks to British biosecurity that the single site at Sevington creates.

“In practice, this means that commercial imports of animal products, including high-risk meat and meat products will be able to arrive at Dover from other countries and leave the point-of-entry and Port Health Authority at Dover, to enter our food chain without checks.

“This is the only border where food that is required to be checked will be able to travel freely and uncontrolled to self-present at a facility 22 miles away.

“We are again calling for Defra to open the purpose-built BCP [border control post] at Dover, Bastion Point, and to provide adequate funding for ASF checks so UK farmers, supply chains and biosecurity are protected.”

The physical checks for biosecurity risks, which began today, are primarily focused on animal by-product goods such as cheese, fish and meat.

This is for high-risk goods entering the country via Dover and Eurotunnel at Folkestone.

Plant-based goods, including fresh flowers and seeds, will also be checked.

But vehicles selected for closer inspection will be instructed to travel 20 miles away to the Inland Border Facility at Sevington.

Defra said it had provided temporary financial support in 2022 to local authorities and port health authorities, which ends this June.

It says it is currently in discussion with Dover PHA to agree future funding to tackle illegal imports, with a focus on identifying illegal pork or pork products in accordance with African Swine Fever safeguard measures.

A Government spokesman told KentOnline: "The new border checks will protect the UK from pests and diseases from imported products, and do not affect the checks conducted at points of entry, such as Dover, to stop the illegal imports like this meat consignment.

“We work closely with Port Health Authorities and colleagues in Border Force to enforce these controls effectively and preventing an outbreak of African Swine Fever is one of our key biosecurity priorities.

“We are fully committed to maintaining existing safeguard measures on African Swine Fever and we will provide necessary funding to ensure this.”

Defra says The volume of seizures made has shown that these operations, led by Border Force, have been successful. It detains illegal consignments of pork or pork products, Dover PHA seizes and disposes of them.

Defra says two sites are not needed for the volume of checks necessary and would cost an additional £7 million per year.

This additional cost would need to be funded through an increase in charges on traders.

Defra adds the UK has never had an outbreak of African Swine Fever but it remains vigilant and there are contingency plans.

As a safeguard controls restricting the movement of pork and pork products into this country came into force in September 2022.