Foot and Mouth Disease in Germany

16/01/2025 - DEFRA Update

Restrictions on the movement of certain live animals and animal product imports from Germany into GB  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:  ·        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 effectively mitigate the risk of FMD    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  This morning Defra held a call for businesses on FMD in Germany and the impact on imports. Our 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:  ·        Current restrictions due to foot and mouth disease in Germany ·        The Port Health Authority requires an inspection  ·        Incorrect, missing or no documentation  ·        Errors in your CHED import notification or your customs declaration    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:   ·        The CHED import notification references (format CHED?.2025.???????) for the consignments being held   ·        Vehicle registrations and trailer numbers for any trucks or trailers held   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 15 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).

Useful contacts    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 on this map or list.  Imports of live animals: for urgent questions about imports of live animals, contact APHA.  Useful links Press notice on gov.uk  Topical Issues – Guidance for imports on gov.uk  Preliminary outbreak assessment  Guidance for imports of non-harmonised Animal by-products  Guidance for imports of Research & diagnostic samples (ABP)

 

14/01/2025 - The following information is from DEFRA

Following confirmation on 10th January 2025 by the German Chief Veterinary Officer of a detection of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in a herd of farmed water buffalo, Germany has now lost its FMD free status.  
 
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 due to the loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries. FMD does not infect humans and does not pose a food safety risk. 

Defra are in contact with German counterparts and are working closely with the Devolved Governments to prevent an incursion from imported goods.  

What is the impact on the import of live animals and meat products from Germany into Great Britain? 

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 effectively mitigate the risk of FMD 

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

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

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 to return goods to Germany, with agreement of the veterinary authorities in the EU, using standard processes. 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, we urge businesses not to put this product into the GB supply chain.  
 
Investigations in Germany relating to the emergence of disease and possible distribution is not complete. Much of it will be safe but the GB authorities will aim to trace and remove those products that which originated close to the outbreak, in a timeframe where FMD infection or contamination is possible.  

Frequently Asked Questions 

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. 

What are the rules around transits of EU/ROW commodities through Germany to GB? 

If the import conditions set out in the EHC allow it then it will be possible for the goods to transit Germany and be imported into GB. However, any EU required transit certification must also allow such a movement. 

What are the rules for transit of goods containing products of susceptible animal origin from Germany through GB to the EU? 

As the GB transit certification requires goods to meet GB import certification requirements it will not be possible for products from susceptible species that cannot be imported directly to GB to transit GB territory. 

Commodities deemed low risk under the BTOM do not require a certificate, are these goods exempt from the current restrictions? 

BTOM low risk products are still required to be treated in accordance with the requirements set out on the relevant certificate and UK regulations. For example, rendered fat for human consumption is categorised under the BTOM as low risk but still needs to comply with the treatment processes set out in UK legislation. Therefore, fully compliant, BTOM low risk goods will be allowed to continue to enter GB. 

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 on this map or list. 

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