Following a confirmed case of foot and mouth disease at a cattle farm in Hungary’s north-west, new import bans have been announced.
The commercial import from Hungary and Slovakia of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and other non-domestic ruminants and porcines such as deer and their untreated products, such as fresh meat and dairy, are now banned.
Since 8 March, travellers are also no longer able to bring meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products and animal by products of pigs and ruminants, or hay or straw from Hungary or Slovakia.
This case follows an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in a water buffalo herd in Germany in January.
While foot and mouth disease does not carry any risk to humans or to food safety, it is highly contagious for cattle, sheep, pigs, and other cloven-hoofed animals. It can have severe economic effects on farmers both through losing productivity as well as access to foreign markets.
While no cases have been reported in the UK yet, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer has urged farmers to stay on the alert for any clinical signs in their livestock.
