Defra Latest Foot and Mouth Disease Update
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have released the latest update on the foot and mouth disease (FMD) situation, providing crucial information on current cases, restrictions, and risk levels.
Foot and mouth disease primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, camelids, and deer. While the disease does not affect humans, it poses a significant threat to animal health and the agricultural economy. Livestock keepers are advised to practice good biosecurity and stay informed about the latest developments.
Current Cases
As of now, there are no active cases of FMD within the UK. However, recent outbreaks have been confirmed in several European countries, including Germany in January 2025, Hungary in March 2025, and Slovakia in March 2025. These cases highlight the importance of continued vigilance and biosecurity measures to prevent the disease from entering the UK.
Restrictions
To mitigate the risk of FMD, the UK has implemented specific restrictions on the importation of certain products:
- Personal Use: Individuals are prohibited from bringing meat or dairy products from animals such as cows, sheep, pigs, and goats into Great Britain if these products originate from the EU, EFTA States, the Faroe Islands, or Greenland.
- Commercial Trade: There are stringent restrictions on importing products from any EU country currently affected by FMD, including Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria. These restrictions cover hay, straw, live animals of FMD-susceptible species, germplasm, fresh meat, meat products (unless suitably heat-treated), milk and dairy products (unless suitably treated), and animal by-products like pet food.
Risk Levels and Outbreak Assessments
The risk of FMD entering the UK is currently assessed as medium. This assessment is based on detailed evidence provided by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in their outbreak assessments for Hungary, Slovakia, and Germany. These assessments are crucial for understanding the potential pathways for disease entry and implementing appropriate preventive measures.
Find details of the evidence that supported the decisions on this risk level in APHA’s outbreak assessments:
- foot and mouth disease in Hungary and Slovakia (27 March 2025)
- foot and mouth disease in water buffalo in Germany (13 January 2025)
Foot and mouth disease is not a public health or food safety risk.
Reporting
Livestock keepers are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of FMD immediately. Reporting can be done by calling the designated number for your region (England, Wales, or Scotland). Prompt reporting and swift action are essential to contain any potential outbreaks and protect the UK's livestock industry.
Press Releases and Statements
Recent press releases from the UK government include updates on import bans and amendments to FMD controls in affected countries. These communications are part of the ongoing efforts to keep the public informed and ensure compliance with biosecurity measures.
- 28 March 2025 press release: Import ban of cattle, pigs, sheep, and deer from Austria to protect farmers
- 24 March 2025: Foot and Mouth disease controls amended in Germany
- 22 March 2025 press release: Foot and Mouth disease detected in Slovakia
- 7 March 2025 press release: Import ban of cattle, pigs, sheep and deer from Hungary and Slovakia to protect farmers after foot and mouth case
- 15 January 2025 statement on foot and mouth disease
- 14 January 2025 press release: Government introduces import ban of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany to protect farmers after Foot and Mouth case
For more detailed information and updates, please refer to the official government website: gov.uk
Author
Wendy Ford
Wendy Ford is Communications Manager at AIC, creating and overseeing the content published on AIC's website, emails, Member briefings, print publications, and social media.
