Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs, and other cloven-hoofed animals. It causes very significant economic losses due to production losses in the affected animals and the loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat, and milk for affected countries. DEFRA has confirmed that FMD does not infect humans and does not pose a food safety risk.  

Defra is in contact with its German counterparts and is working closely with the devolved governments to prevent incursions from imported goods.   

Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) has suspended the import of the following commodities to Great Britain from Germany following an outbreak of FMD that was confirmed on 10 January 2025:  

• live (including non-domestic) ungulates (ruminants and porcine animals, including wild game) and their germplasm  
• fresh meat from ungulates  
• meat products from ungulates that have not been subject to specific treatment D1 or higher (including wild game)  
• milk, colostrum and their products, unless subjected to treatment as defined in Article 4 of Regulation 2010/605  
• animal by-products, unless treated to mitigate the risk of FMD effectively  

Official Guidance 

These restrictions are set out in the relevant lists on GOV UK.   

Further safeguard measures restricting the commercial import of animal by-products, hay, and straw from Germany will be published in due course unless treated to effectively mitigate the risk of FMD.  

What actions do businesses need to take?  

Businesses are asked to suspend imports of impacted products (see below) from Germany whilst the German authorities investigate the outbreak.   
  
Where goods are currently being held at the GB border due to the FMD outbreak in Germany, Port Health Authorities and Local Authorities can support businesses in returning goods to Germany using standard processes, with the agreement of the veterinary authorities in the EU. Please contact the PHA at the port of entry where your goods are being held for information.  

Where these products have recently arrived in GB, and the EHC was signed in good faith before the presence of FMD in Germany was confirmed, DEFRA urges businesses not to put this product into the GB supply chain.   
  
Investigations in Germany relating to the emergence of disease and possible distribution are not complete. Much of it will be safe, but the GB authorities will aim to trace and remove those products that originated close to the outbreak in a timeframe where FMD infection or contamination is possible.  
  
Contact points   

Imports of animal products: for urgent questions about imports of animal products, including germinal products, contact the Port Health Authority or Local Authority at the Border Control Post (BCP) for the goods’ point of entry. Find the BCP and the PHA/LA contact information here.  

 
Imports of live animals: for urgent questions about imports of live animals, contact APHA 

Frequently Asked Questions Issued from DEFRA 

Is meat or products from pigs or any other FMD-susceptible species sourced outside of Germany but slaughtered in Germany under this restriction?  

Regardless of the origin of the pigs, the export would be from Germany and, as such, would require an Export Health Certificate (EHC) signed by an Official Vet (OV) in Germany. As a consequence of Germany losing FMD freedom this certificate could no longer be signed. 

Are pork cuts or those from other FMD susceptible species sourced from outside of Germany that are butchered in Germany and then exported to UK still allowed certification and import into UK?  

No, the export would be from Germany and as such would require an EHC signed by an OV in Germany. As a consequence of Germany losing FMD freedom this certificate could no longer be signed.  

Is meat or products from pigs, or any other FMD susceptible species, that is exported from Germany but where the animal is slaughtered outside of Germany under this restriction?  

This will depend on the ability of the certifying OV to be able to complete and sign the export health certificate. The fresh meat described on the certificate has to meet the FMD requirements in relation to the territory of origin. Therefore, if the pork meat is sourced from outside of Germany and the other parts of the certificate can be met then the product can be imported into GB.  

Can products that have been restricted and held at the border be returned to Germany?  

Yes, goods that have been held at the border as a consequence of the outbreak of FMD in Germany can be returned to Germany on a voluntary basis subject to agreement by the veterinary authorities in the EU.