FMD: Defra addresses claims that implementation of imports ban from Germany took days
14th February 2025
Defra has issued a statement in regard to an “inaccurate media coverage” of foot and mouth disease (FMD) controls with reports that it took six or seven days to implement Defra’s restrictions on German imports.
The statement follows the news that Efra has asked Baroness Hayman of Ullock, the Defra minister responsible for biosecurity and borders, to set out when the decision was made to ban the import of relevant goods from Germany, when border control posts were informed and when IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System) was successfully updated and operating as intended.
The Efra committee’s letter follows its evidence session last week on the subject of biosecurity measures at the border. During the session, witnesses told MPs that it was possible for meat and dairy products from Germany to continue entering the UK “for at least six days” via legitimate commercial routes, despite a ban being brought in on the import of cattle, pigs, sheep, deer, buffaloes and their products from Germany to prevent the spread of FMD.
Committee members ask Defra to confirm the quantity of prohibited goods that were able to enter the country in the time between controls being approved and IPAFFS being updated.
The MPs’ letter also asks the department to inform them of what steps have been taken to track and remove prohibited products and to explain what assessment Defra has made of the cause of the delay to controls being properly implemented.
READ MORE: Government asked about delayed response to FMD outbreak in Germany
‘Government will do whatever it takes’
A spokesperson for Defra said: “These claims are inaccurate. Our strict controls are designed to protect our borders from disease incursion, and we have taken the most stringent action possible to protect our farming sectors.
“On the specifics of the reporting, which are based on claims around IT systems updating, let’s be clear, on 10th January 2025, Germany notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) of a confirmed outbreak of Foot and Mouth. On the same day, Port Health Authorities (PHAs) and Local Authorities (LAs) were requested to immediately hold impacted consignments at Border Control Posts.
“Also on the 10th, Defra issued communication to traders notifying them of these controls and worked with individuals that had consignments held at points of entry. We issued a clear and immediate direction to PHA’s to check and hold suspected consignments.
“Following established processes, the department worked quickly to develop and issue guidance for traders and PHAs on safely importing relevant German commodities to support trade. Defra was in continuous contact with the German authorities about the impacted FMD zone.”
The Defra team added that the government “will do whatever it takes” to protect the nation’s farmers from the risk posed by foot and mouth disease.
“That is why restrictions were immediately brought in on animal products from Germany to prevent an outbreak.
“We ensured that auto-clearance facilities were superseded by robust biosecurity controls which were implemented at pace following confirmation of the outbreak,” they concluded.
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