Lowestoft: 'Illegally imported' food seized from Romania

Officials stopped the vehicle as it neared the end of its journey from the southeastern European country.

The white van had entered the country via the Port of Dover and was halted in the Suffolk town earlier this month as part of a series of 'multi agency' spot checks of vehicles.

Officials from East Suffolk Council and Suffolk Trading Standards were involved in investigating the haul of pork, eggs and other food items found on board.

It comes at a time of heightened concern over the international spread of animal diseases, via infected pork products.

The van also had a refrigerator and was carrying weighing scales.

Siezed food products from a white van in Lowestoft (Image: Submitted)

The occupants said the food was intended for personal consumption.

They agreed to voluntarily surrender all of the products, which the officers then incinerated.

Mary Rudd, an East Suffolk councillor, said: “Since September, strict controls have restricted the movement of pork and pork products into Great Britain to help safeguard Britain’s pigs from the threat of African swine fever.

"This was great work by all involved to take this imported food out of circulation and remove any possible risks to animal and human health.”

Some of the meat which had been imported from Romania (Image: Submitted)

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Andrew Reid, a senior Suffolk county councillor, said: “Food crime and fraud can take many forms, affecting food quality, authenticity and, most importantly, safety.

"In addition to posing a danger to public health, food crime undermines legitimate businesses and the food industry's reputation."

It is against the law to bring pork or pork products weighing more than two kilograms into Great Britain unless they are produced to the EU's commercial standards.

The food importation crack down is to safeguard Britain’s pigs from the threat of African swine fever, among other reasons (Image: East Suffolk Council)