A SENATE Estimates committee has heard more than 100 tonnes of Korean meat and dairy products was illegally imported into Australia.

Tasmanian Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said in a statement today officials painted a "worrying picture".

He said Foot and Mouth Disease was widespread in Korea.

"Given it took 12 months to discover the illegally imported products, who knows how much was actually brought in?

"Dim sims, ice cream and raw meat were among a range of products illegally imported into Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane from December 2009 until just before Christmas in 2010.

"Product had been widely distributed and was retrieved from about 300 retail premises, but we can't be sure it was all found or how much was consumed. 

"There are a number of matters of concern here.

"Not the least is why – when Foot and Mouth Disease is widespread in Korea and the risk classification of this country had recently increased – weren't inspections and audits of goods from Korea increased?"