Foot-and-mouth disease: UK introduces import ban of cattle, pigs, sheep and deer from Hungary and Slovakia

Hungary’s National Food Chain Safety Authority (Nébih) announced on Friday, 7th March, that a farm with 1,400 cattle in Kisbajcs, located near the border with Slovakia, showed classic symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease at the beginning of this month.  

Dr Szabolcs Pásztor, the national chief veterinarian, immediately ordered the closure of the farm and initiated an investigation to ascertain how the virus reached the farm.   

‘Extremely strict’ official measures are being implemented, including a ban on the transport of susceptible live animal species and their products. 

Defra said that the UK government has “acted immediately” to prevent the commercial import from Hungary and Slovakia of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and other non-domestic ruminants and porcines, such as deer and their untreated products, such as fresh meat and dairy. This move is set to protect farmers and their livestock, Defra added. 

Stay vigilant

A spokesperson for Defra said: “Action is already underway with local authorities and traders to address possible risks from goods on the way to GB. Such goods must be pre-notified, and wider border systems in place will prevent consignments entering GB.

“This is in addition to restrictions already in place for equivalent exports from Germany, following an outbreak in a water buffalo herd in Brandenburg on 10th January 2025.

In addition, as of 8th March, travellers will no longer be able to bring meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products, and animal byproducts of pigs and ruminants from Hungary and Slovakia to Great Britain.”

The UK chief veterinary officer Dr Christine Middlemiss is urging livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of FMD following the recent outbreaks in Hungary and Germany. There are no cases in the UK currently.

Dr Middlemiss said: “We remain in contact with our Hungarian counterparts to understand the latest situation following their confirmation of a single case of foot and mouth disease, measures are now being taken to contain and eradicate the outbreak.

“I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.”

READ MORE: Foot and mouth disease outbreak confirmed in Germany

READ MORE: Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak: UK bans livestock imports from Germany

‘Situation under review’

FMD poses no risk to human or food safety, but is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals such as deer, llamas and alpacas. Rodents can also be affected. Livestock keepers should therefore be absolutely rigorous about their biosecurity.

FMD causes significant economic losses due to production losses in the affected animals as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries.

Farming minister Daniel Zeichner said: “The government will do whatever it takes to protect our nation’s farmers from the risk posed by foot and mouth disease.

“That is why restrictions have immediately been brought in on animal products from Hungary and Slovakia to prevent an outbreak. We will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads. We will continue to keep the situation under review working closely with the Hungarian and Slovakian authorities.”

Defra also confirmed that the government is investing £200 million in the UK’s main research and laboratory testing facilities at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal disease.

If you are an animal keeper, read about how to spot foot and mouth disease and report it. 

If you are an importer or exporter, read about the import restrictions for foot and mouth disease. 

Clinical signs to be aware of vary depending on the animals, but in cattle, the main signs are sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue with potentially a fever, lameness and a reluctance to feed. In sheep and pigs, signs tend to manifest with lameness with potential for blistering.  

Foot and mouth disease is a notifiable disease and must be reported. If you suspect foot and mouth disease in your animals, you must report it immediately by calling:

Find more information here.

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