A UK ban on the import of animal products from Germany has been lifted, after the UK yesterday (14 May) “recognised the entire territory of Germany as FMD-free without vaccination”.
In an email to traders, the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) wrote that:
“The export of affected commodities from the containment zone can resume, provided that all other import conditions are met and attestations in the relevant export health certificate can be certified.”
In an announcement published on gov.uk, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that the following products are no longer subject to restrictions:
- Live (including non-domestic) ruminant and porcine animals, including wild game, and their germplasm
- Fresh meat from ruminant and porcine animals (including chilled and frozen)
- Meat products from ruminant and porcine animals that have not been subject to specific treatment D1, D, C or B (including wild game)
- Raw and pasteurised milk and raw and pasteurised milk products of FMD-susceptible animals (including colostrum)
- Certain animal by-products
- Hay and straw
Following a confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth disease on 10 January, the UK banned imports of vulnerable animal products from a designated “containment zone” in the North West of Germany.
Defra’s announcement added that the lifting of the ban followed its review of, and satisfaction with, the German Competent Authority’s response to the outbreak.
