UK bans imports of some animal products from Hungary, Slovakia
Both countries reported FMD outbreaks
10 March 2025
1 minute read
By: Britain banned imports of cattle, pigs and other animal products from Hungary and Slovakia to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease after a confirmed case in Hungary, Reuters reported, citing a government statement on Friday.
As of March 8, travellers would not be able to bring meat, meat products, milk, dairy products, and animal by-products of pigs and ruminants from the two countries, the statement added.
"We will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads", Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said, adding that the country will continue to keep the situation under review and work closely with authorities.
There are no current cases of the livestock disease in Britain.
Foot-and-mouth disease poses no danger to humans but causes fever and mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed ruminants such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, and outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions.
Hungary reported its first case of foot-and-mouth disease in more than 50 years, on a cattle farm in the northwest of the country near the border with Slovakia on Friday.
The import ban is in addition to the one imposed by Britain on the imports of ham and other meat and dairy products from Germany following a confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease there in January.
