Britain's second largest group of ports, Peel Ports, is strategically located to serve the whole of the United Kingdom...
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Peel Ports News

Liverpool serves up state-of-the-art Port Health border inspection post

For Immediate Release - 10 July, 2007

A new border inspection post to ensure that the people and animals of Britain eat safely has been officially opened at the Port of Liverpool.

The £600,000 inspection centre has been built by Peel Ports at the Royal Seaforth Container Terminal, for use by the Mersey Port Health Authority in monitoring imports of food and other products of animal origin.

The new unit will be manned by the authority's officers who will check and test samples of food stuffs arriving in chilled containers and trailer units from abroad.

The Border Inspection Post, which has identical but totally segregated sterile units for monitoring the quality of food imported for people and for livestock, was officially opened by the Chairman of the Port Health Authority, Councillor Ron Abbey.

"This state-of-the-art facility equips the Port Health Authority to carry out its responsibilities to maximum effect and efficiency," he said. "The border post, which has been approved by the EU as one of the authorised routes for importing commodities into Europe, will ensure the wellbeing of the people of the UK and of the country's animal population."

Councillor Abbey cut a ribbon stretched across one of the 10 raised bays with dock levellers where chilled haulage units are backed up for inspection and out-turn of their contents. Members of the authority then toured the border post, which provides identical facilities in two adjoining but isolated sections, including temperature controlled unloading areas, freezer rooms with temperatures down to minus 30 degrees centigrade, inspection rooms and ambient detention stores for rejected product.

Pat Foreman, Managing Director of Food Northwest Limited, the lead organisation for the food and drinks sector in the region, said: "The Port of Liverpool is an enormously valuable resource for the food economy of the North West. As the 'local' port for a region which is one of the UK's leading sectors for food production and distribution, employing more than 150,000 people, Liverpool is central to the wellbeing of the industry. This new check-point facility enhances the industry's confidence in the integrity of the international food supply chain through our strategic gateway, the Port of Liverpool."

Frank Robotham, Marketing Director of Peel Ports, said: "We are delighted to be able to provide the Port Health Authority with the best possible facilities to monitor and control the increasing volume and diversity of food products moving through the Port of Liverpool. This excellent Border Inspection Post will also enable the Port to broaden the range of such cargoes it can handle and most importantly, will give our customers assurance that the Port of Liverpool is applying the highest standards in handling their cargoes and safeguarding their business."

Peel Ports News