The UK government has officially lifted foot-and-mouth restrictions on certain livestock and products coming from Germany, following confirmation that the country is once again free of the disease.
It comes after a case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was detected near Berlin in January - the first in Germany for over three decades - prompting swift movement bans and culling measures. After reviewing the situation, UK animal health authorities say they’re satisfied Germany has contained the outbreak.
This means commercial imports of livestock such as cattle, pigs, sheep and deer, as well as meat and dairy products from the previously affected zone, can now resume - provided they meet existing biosecurity checks.
However, personal imports of meat and dairy from anywhere in the European Union remain banned. That includes travellers bringing in items like cheese, sausages or milk - even if they’re shop-bought, in sealed packaging or picked up from duty free.
The ban is staying in place due to recent FMD outbreaks in Slovakia and Hungary, which have raised concerns across the EU.
FMD is a notifiable and highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals. It can cause severe production losses - such as reduced milk yields - and has major knock-on effects for trade, with countries losing access to export markets during an outbreak.
Back in January, German authorities locked down animal movements in the state of Brandenburg for 72 hours after the virus was discovered in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin. Livestock on nearby holdings were culled as a precaution.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Defra say they’ll continue to monitor the EU situation closely. Should further outbreaks occur, restrictions could be reimposed at short notice.
Farmers are reminded that FMD remains a notifiable disease in the UK, and any suspected case must be reported without delay.
Defra said: “The ongoing restrictions on personal imports are a necessary step to protect the health of our livestock, the livelihoods of farmers, and national food security.”
