Coronavirus: UK scraps quarantine rules for non-UK poultry workers despite meat-packing case spikes

Relaxing of restrictions comes after ‘Pick for Britain’ drive saw only 11 per cent of farming workforce made up of UK nationals

A bronze turkey stag at Glebe Farm in the village of Owermoigne near Dorchester (AFP via Getty Images)

The UK has cast aside its coronavirus quarantine rules for foreign poultry workers ahead of a Christmas rush on turkeys, allowing non-UK residents to travel into the country for labour – but barring them from interacting with the rest of society.

The government effectively banned all but the most essential travel under its second national lockdown rules while forcing most of those who do cross the border to self-isolate for two weeks.

However, despite a number of localised outbreaks across the country and the continent in meat packing plants, ministers have waived such restrictions when it comes to poultry farm workers ahead of Christmas.

The new policy, which came into force from 4am on 17 November, will mean those responsible for packing turkey and chicken meat will no longer be stopped from working for the two weeks after they arrive in Britain.

Instead they will be shuttered away from society at large, only interacting and living with “cohorts” of fellow seasonal workers so as not to spread the virus.

Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said the bringing in of foreign nationals to carry out seasonal work would help farmers keep up with Christmas demand.

“Christmas dinner is the highlight of the year for many families and this year it will be particularly significant,” he said.

“Businesses up and down the country have faced unprecedented challenges from coronavirus and these measures will ensure UK farmers and food producers are supported.”

It comes after an ultimately doomed attempt by the government to encourage Britons to take on seasonal farming work during the first nationwide lockdown.

According to a survey conducted by the National Farmer’s Union, UK citizens made up only 11 per cent of the fruit, veg and flower picking workforce in 2020 despite Boris Johnson’s ‘Pick for Britain’ campaign.

The National Farmers’ Union’s chief poultry adviser, Aimee Mahony, said: “By putting in place this exemption, government has recognised the invaluable role seasonal poultry workers contribute to farm businesses preparing for the festive period to ensure we can all enjoy our traditional Christmas turkey.

“This exemption offers a practical solution to allow these much-needed workers to undertake key roles on farms and in processing facilities, and industry will continue to follow government guidance to help protect the health and safety of its staff.”

Meat-packing plants have been a source of outbreaks across several countries during the course of the pandemic.

Germany’s first major case spike after controlling its first wave came from a plant in Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia, where more than 1,500 of 7,000 workers tested positive.

In May almost half the workers tested at one of Portugal’s biggest poultry slaughterhouses were found to have contracted the virus, while outbreaks throughout the year have been reported in Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Wrexham, and Kirklees.