UK Bans Some Animal Imports from Hungary & Slovakia

Britain Bans Animal Imports from Hungary and Slovakia to Prevent Foot-and-Mouth Disease Spread

Britain has banned imports of cattle, pigs, and other animal products from Hungary and Slovakia following a confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease in Hungary. The government announced the ban in a statement on Friday, aiming to prevent the spread of the disease.

As of 8th March, travellers will not be allowed to bring meat, meat products, milk, dairy products, and animal by-products of pigs and ruminants from the two countries. Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner stated, “We will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads,” emphasising that the situation will be continuously reviewed and closely monitored with authorities.

Currently, there are no cases of foot-and-mouth disease in Britain. While the disease poses no danger to humans, it causes fever and mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed ruminants such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, often leading to trade restrictions.

Original story: Reuters