Latest news Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Update

DEFRA have released and important update:    

As previously communicated. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of the following commodities to Great Britain from Germany, following a confirmed case of FMD on 10 January 2025:  

  
Defra have issued information on the restrictions, and technical details are on the relevant lists on GOV UK.  

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) webinar recording  

Yesterday morning Defra held a call for businesses on FMD in Germany and the impact on imports. Their subject matter experts from the Defra Borders team, Animal and Plant Health and Welfare and the UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance directly answered questions from businesses. You can watch the recording on APHA’s Youtube channel.  

Technical information on importing German processed meat and dairy products  

There were a number of questions on the call about the technical specifications and links to legislation around processed meat and dairy products that are still permitted to enter Great Britain. The following information has been provided by the UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance.  
 
Imports of meat products derived from FMD-susceptible animals subject to at least heat treatment D1 or above (heat treatment D, C and B) are still permitted. Treatment D1 requires that products are subject to ‘heating so that an internal temperature of 70 °C or greater is maintained for a minimum of 30 minutes’. This has been achieved through the application of treatment D1 in columns 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11 in the meat products third country listing.   

  
Imports of milk and milk products under column C of Germany’s entry in the milk and milk products third country listing are still permitted. Column C lists those countries authorised for the importation of dairy products derived from raw milk of cows, ewes, goats or buffaloes, or, where specifically authorised, from camels of the species Camelus dromedarius at risk of foot-and-mouth disease provided that the dairy products have undergone, or been produced from raw milk which has undergone, an appropriate heat treatment, in accordance with Article 4 of EUR 2010/605.  

You will need to provide evidence from your producer that the products meet these requirements. This evidence should be uploaded and attached to the CHED import notification on IPAFFS before you submit the CHED so that the Port Health Authorities/Local Authorities can review as part of the documentary check.  

Evidence can include an appropriately signed health certificate, relevant to the consignment being imported, where an Official Veterinarian (OV) has certified that the appropriate heat treatment has been applied.  

What to do if your animal product import is held at the border  

If your animal product import is being held at the border, there may be a number of reasons:  

Your first point of contact for animal product imports held at the border should always be the port health authority at the point of entry. You’ll find full contact details for all PHAs on GOV UK and on this map. You must provide:   

It’s also useful to provide the customs declaration MRN number and the Goods Movement Reference if there is one.  

The PHA will be able to tell you why the goods are being held and what action you need to take to resolve the hold. 

Bringing food and other products for personal use from Germany into Great Britain 

As a result of the recent confirmed case of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Germany, from 15th January 2025 individuals cannot bring any products of FMD susceptible species (for example: sheep, pigs, cows) from Germany into Great Britain for personal consumption. 

This includes fresh meat, meat products, milk, dairy products, colostrum, colostrum products and certain composite products and animal by products of ungulates. These products pose a risk to animal health in Great Britain. 

Exemptions from these rules include infant milk, medical foods and certain low risk composite products (including chocolate, confectionery, bread, cakes, biscuits, pasta and food supplements containing less than 20% animal products).