An outbreak of FMD (foot and mouth disease) virus serotype O has been confirmed in a herd of water buffalo near Brandenberg, in the Markisch Odèland district of Germany (to the east of Berlin). This is the first instance of FMD in Germany since 1988.
The cases were confirmed on 10 January 2025 and affected three water buffalo out of a herd of 14. The remaining animals in the herd have been culled to prevent further spread.
200 pigs on a nearby farm have also been culled as a precaution.
No further cases of FMD have been found in Germany, but tracing tests and surveillance testing is still ongoing. The source of infection is still unknown. The State of Brandenburg and the City of Berlin have prohibited the movement of cloven-hoofed animals.
Veal calves were moved from Brandenburg to the Netherlands before FMD was detected, but no cases have been reported in the Netherlands following testing. The Dutch Government imposed a ban on the movement of calves while investigations and testing were carried out.
Nine farms in Belgium were placed under precautionary quarantine following the movement of animals from Brandenburg to Belgium. However, no cases have been detected.
UK response
The UK Government has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of FMD with a ban on imports of cattle, pigs and sheep and their products from Germany to Great Britain.
GB health certificates will no longer be issued for animals susceptible to FMD including all live animals and fresh meat and animal products. Details can be read via: GOV.UK | Government introduces import ban of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany to protect farmers after Foot and Mouth case
A 3km exclusion zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been put in place around the IP (infected premises) and the German authorities are slaughtering all susceptible livestock within 1km, including wild boar within 1km of the IP.
Additionally, no animals or their products can be taken out of this area.
The German authorities are conducting the relevant investigations to determine the source of the infection.
Vaccines
Suitable vaccines against FMDV (foot and mouth disease virus), serotype O are available in the German FMD antigen bank. Once activated by the Länder, the FMD antigen bank can produce the necessary vaccines within a few days.
Surveillance information will determine any further measures that may need to be taken, as well as whether and how to use a vaccine.
“With so much uncertainty about where this disease is and where it came from, and knowing the impact this horrendous disease can have, we're calling on the government to ban personal imports of meat, milk, and meat and milk products, unless accompanied by official veterinary documentation.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
Trade impact and considerations
Ruminant livestock movements were already stopped because of bluetongue, although this previous stoppage did not apply to live pigs as they are not susceptible to bluetongue.
As Germany has lost its FMD free status it cannot export many products of animal origin (POAO) to third countries, including the UK.
The Netherlands also banned the movement of calves from Dutch veal producers until the 19th of January. This was because of the high number of farms which had imported calves from Brandenberg since 1 December 2024.
The commercial import of cattle, pigs, sheep, deer, buffaloes and their products such as meat, and dairy from Germany is no longer permitted to protect farmers and their livelihoods. GB health certificates will no longer be issued for animals susceptible to FMD including all live animals and fresh meat and animal products.
In light of the FMD outbreak, as of 15th January, it is no longer permitted for travellers to bring unpackaged meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products and animal by products of pigs and ruminants into Great Britain from the EU, EFTA states, Faroe Islands and Greenland. Commercially packaged products of those above, from the EU are limited to 2kg per traveller. Additionally, these products may not be brought to Great Britain from Germany, even if commercially packaged. This is a significant tightening in personal imports policy as previously there have been no restrictions to stop EU travellers bringing in large volumes of Product Of Animal Origin for personal consumption.
The new restrictions will also shine a greater spotlight on any illegal meat imports. The government must ensure that those fighting against illegal meat imports, including our Port Health Authorities and UK Border Force, have the resources they need to stamp out this practice and that the consequences of undertaking such illegal activity be suitably severe so as to act as a disincentive.
Automatic regionalisation
Throughout the EU there is a policy of automatic regionalisation, whereby animals and POAO (Products Of Animal Origin) from Germany can move to other Member States providing they do not originate from the 10km zone.
Great Britain has not yet recognised regionalisation, so products cannot be certified from anywhere in Germany to move direct to Great Britain.
Under the TCA (UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement), Great Britain will look at any requests for regionalisation based on epidemiological information. (Northern Ireland has a more complicated situation as it mirrors Southern Ireland, so must adopt the EU’s stance on automatic regionalisation.)
Until such a request has been received and considered, POAO cannot move directly from anywhere in Germany, or indirectly moving from Germany to another Member State, into Great Britain. These products cannot be certified.
Port Health Authorities have been instructed to hold any product that has come from Germany at ports (live animals, germinal products, any untreated products of animal origin (eg any fresh or frozen pork meat), hay and straw.
Importers will be given the option to either return or destroy, but this option hasn’t been issued yet as guidance.
Commodity restrictions
As of 13 January 2025, the UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance has amended its third country listings to suspend the following commodities from FMD-susceptible animals from the whole territory of Germany:
- Live ungulates: through the removal of BOV-X, BOV-Y, OVI-X, OVI-Y, RUM, and SUI certificates from Germany’s entry in the live ungulates third country listing.
- Ruminant and porcine germplasm: through amendments to the third country listings for:
- porcine semen,
- bovine semen,
- bovine embryos,
- ovine and caprine embryos,
- and ovine and caprine semen.
- Porcine semen from the whole territory of Germany is already restricted due to an outbreak of ASF.
- It is now additionally restricted due to the outbreak of FMD.
- Fresh meat of ungulates: through the removal of BOV, OVI, RUF, RUW, SUF, and SUW certificates from Germany’s entry in the fresh meat of ungulates third country listing.
- Meat products that have not been subject to at least heat treatment D1.
- 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 meat products from FMD-susceptible animals subject to heat treatment D1 are still permitted.
- Raw and pasteurised milk and raw and pasteurised milk products (including colostrum): through amendments to columns A and B in Germany’s entry in the milk and milk products third country listing.
- Imports of milk and milk products under column C are still permitted.
For more information on EU and EFTA states approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), visit: GOV.UK | EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain
Personal import restrictions
Restrictions on personal imports of commodities from susceptible animals (primarily ruminants and porcines) from the EU in response to the FMD outbreak reflect the recent tightening of ASF controls:
- All unpackaged ruminant and porcine commodities will be restricted from the entire territory of the EU.
- All commercially packaged ruminant and porcine commodities from the EU are limited to 2kg per traveller, and must bear an identification or health mark (or commercial labelling if it is an animal by-product) to evidence it is commercially produced.
- No ruminant or porcine commodities will be permitted from the entire territory of Germany, including commercially packaged commodities.
- Susceptible animal commodities include bovine, caprine, ovine, cervid, porcine and camelid products.
- Certain exemptions apply for infant milk, medical foods and certain composite products (e.g. chocolate and biscuits).
- Live animals, germplasm and untreated wool, hair, skins and hides are not permitted for personal import under separate rules.
NFU comment
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “The confirmed outbreak of FMD in Germany is very worrying news for all livestock keepers across the EU.
“We welcome the swift action taken to ban imports from Germany for both commercial and personal allowance, and the limits on what products private passengers can bring into the country from the EU. While we hope the disease remains contained, we urge the government to take similar action if it’s found to be circulating in other countries. It is paramount our borders are secure, so we don’t risk importing FMD into the UK.
“That’s why we’re also calling for the government to ensure that those fighting illegal meat imports, including Border Force, have the resources they need to stamp out this practice. It is also vital that the newly announced restrictions on what passengers can bring into the country in their personal baggage is widely communicated and understood by people travelling to our borders.
“With so much uncertainty about where this horrendous disease is and where it came from, and knowing the devastating impact it can have, it’s vital the government maintains constant contact with counterparts in the EU.”
Spotting the signs
FMD affects cattle, sheep and pigs. The last outbreak in Great Britain was in 2007. Currently, there are no cases or control zones in the UK.
For information on spotting the signs, visit: GOV.UK | Foot and mouth disease: how to spot and report it
- Signs of foot and mouth disease
- Report foot and mouth disease
- How foot and mouth disease is spread
- Preventing and controlling foot and mouth disease
