Conservative MPs have warned that “dangerous” meat could appear on supermarket shelves in a mere seven weeks if the government doesn’t confirm funding for food security checks at the border.

Speaking during the government’s environmental, food and rural affairs questions, Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins blasted the government for not securing further funding for the Dover border port.

Atkin’s warned that without further funding food security checks, for dangers such as foot and mouth disease, were likely to end within seven weeks.

Atkins said: “The head of port health at Dover warned the select committee this week that if funding is not secured within seven weeks, then food security checks at the border will be stopped.

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“This will mean unchecked and potentially dangerous meat appearing on supermarket shelves and in restaurants, at a time when foot-and-mouth disease is in Germany. When will the Secretary of State protect out borders and confirm this funding?”

Chairman of the environment, food and rural affairs committee Alistair Carmichael added: “Funding for Dover Port Health Authority is due to expire at the end of March, at the very least can we sort out the financing for this in the next financial year?”

In response environment minister Daniel Zeichner told MPs that the government was aware of the challenges at Dover and were “on it”.

The minister added: “The issues at Dover are significant, they’ve been long running. The funding was not resolved ahead of the general election, it is an ongoing discussion.”

“We are very aware of the challenges that are faced, we are on it, and we will make sure that we are talking to the Dover Port Health Authority.”

The comments follow Defra last month stepping up measures to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), with the introduction of an import ban on cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany.