UK Government introduces import ban of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany to protect farmers after foot and mouth case

The UK Government has implemented measures to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD), after a case was confirmed in Germany.

The commercial import of cattle, pigs, sheep, deer, buffaloes and their products such as meat, and dairy from Germany will now be banned. GB health certificates will no longer be issued for animals susceptible to FMD including all live animals and fresh meat and animal products.

As of 15 January, it is no longer permitted for travellers to bring unpackaged meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products and animal by products of pigs and ruminants into Great Britain from the EU,  EFTA states,  Faroe Islands and Greenland. Additionally, these products may not be brought to Great Britain from Germany, even if commercially packaged.

The UK Chief Veterinary Officer is also urging livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of FMD following an outbreak of the disease in Germany. There are no cases in the UK currently.

FMD poses no risk to human or food safety, but is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. Livestock keepers should therefore be absolutely rigorous about their biosecurity.

FMD causes significant economic losses due to production losses in the affected animals as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries.

You can read more on this here.