The UK has banned imports of sheep and pigs from Germany following reports of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the country.
While there are no cases of the disease at present in the country, the ban aims to protect the livelihoods of farmers there.
“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,” UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said.
“I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the upmost vigilance for signs of disease.”
Why has the ban taken place?
Last week, foot-and-mouth disease was found in Germany in a herd of water buffalo in Hönow, Brandenburg, just outside Berlin. This is, reports Reuters, the first time the disease has been found in the country in almost 40 years.
In response, authorities in Brandenburg and Berlin announced the transport of animals which can transmit the disease would be halted for six days while investigations are carried out.
While the disease is not a danger to humans, it poses significant risk to cattle. Therefore, it must be contained.
What will be the consequences of the outbreak for meat exports?
Exports of German meat and dairy products to other EU countries will likely continue, as according to current rules exports should be stopped only from the region of the country currently suffering from the disease, a spokesperson for Germany’s federal agriculture ministry said.
However, Germany’s status as free from foot-and-mouth disease, under World Organisation for Animal Health requirements, has now been lost.
This means, according to the agriculture ministry, that many veterinary certificates for exports outside the EU can no longer be issued.
Exports of goods including meat and meat products, milk & dairy products, hides, skins and blood products are, in the words of the ministry, “currently hardly possible.” It is assumed third countries would impose bans on such goods coming from Germany, according to the ministry.
Some countries, such as South Korea, are already restricting imports of German meat.
What is foot-and-mouth disease?
Foot-and-mouth disease is a viral infection. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), it affects "cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants". Symptoms include blisters on the nose, tongue or lips, inside the mouth, between the toes or above the hooves, on the teats and at pressure points on the skin. Other symptoms may include depression, fever, hypersalivation, weight loss and loss of appetite. The incubation period is 2-14 days. The mortality rate is usually higher in young lambs, calves and piglets and is usually not fatal in adult animals. It does not pose a health risk to humans.