Britain bans import of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany to stop foot and mouth outbreak
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Britain has banned the import of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany to stop an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. The restriction also applies to products from these animals. GB health certificates will no longer be issued for animals susceptible to FMD including all live animals and fresh meat and animal products.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said: “We remain in constant contact with German counterparts to understand the latest situation following their confirmation of a single case of Foot and Mouth disease. “We have robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security, which means using all measures to limit the risk incursion and spread of this devastating disease.
“I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.”. There are currently not believed to be any cases of Foot and Mouth in the UK but farmers are being urged to remain vigilant to the disease’s clinical signs.
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. Britain was hit with a huge outbreak in 2001 which saw millions of animals slaughtered and the General Election delayed given the scale of the crisis.
