UK lifts ban on German animal products after FMD outbreak

According to Germany’s Ministry of Agriculture, the UK has lifted a ban on imports of German livestock and animal products imposed after a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak near Berlin in January. Exports toward the UK should then resume normally in the coming days. On March 12, German authorities declared that the country was free of FMD in most areas, paving the way for removing export restrictions on meat and dairy products. Domestic restrictions have already been lifted.
In January, the first FMD case in Germany in nearly 40 years was detected in a herd of water buffalo on the outskirts of Berlin. Measures to curb the outbreak were immediately implemented, and several countries like South Korea and the UK, imposed import bans on German meat and dairy products. The European Union still allowed German exports from regions outside the affected area. However, no more cases have been detected for two months, leading to the gradual removal of international restrictions. In a statement, German Agriculture Minister Cem Oezdemir expressed great satisfaction with the UK’s decision and hailed it as a recognition of his country’s “successful efforts” in fighting the disease.