Halting the entry into the UK of diseases such as potato brown rot is one of the targets of a National Farmers Union summit to be held on January 22.

In the wake of last year's foot and mouth epidemic, organisations such as the British Airports Authority, the Food Standards Agency and the department of the environment food and rural affairs, will meet at NFU headquarters in London to examine ways of reducing imports of plant and animal diseases.

The illegal imports summits aims to encourage better co-ordination, more rigorous enforcement and proper resourcing of border controls for both commercial shipments and personal imports by individuals.

NFU president Ben Gill said: 'After 11 months of sheer hell, it looks like we have beaten foot and mouth. Now we must do everything possible to keep the country safe in the future.

'Foot and mouth is just the latest and most devastating unwanted import from a growing list in recent years. We have to make sure our border controls are tough enough to cope with the risk posed by increasing international trade and travel.' Leaf wilt, rhizomania and wheat mozaic virus are among the list of diseases imported into the UK in recent years.

NFU food standards committee chairman Michael Seals said: 'We are extremely pleased that the industry and related organisations have shown their willingness to discuss with us what can be done to improve the situation.'

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