New controls on sheep and goat products to tackle ‘plague’
22nd August 2024
Personal imports of certain sheep and goat commodities have been suspended to protect the UK from peste des petits ruminants (PPR).
After recent outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) – or ‘goat plague’ – in mainland Europe, Defra has announced strict new controls to protect Britain’s livestock population.
It will no longer be permitted to bring unpackaged sheep and goat meat and meat products, or sheep and goat milk and milk products, into Great Britain from the following areas:
- The EU
- European Free Trade Association states
- Greenland
- Faroe Islands.
Additionally, commercially produced and packaged sheep and goat milk and milk products are not permitted from Greece or Romania.
The rules are now in force in England, and come into force in Wales today (22nd August) – with Scotland to follow soon.
These measures will remain in place until PPR no longer presents a risk to GB through the import of those products.
READ MORE: Greece announces nationwide restrictions to tackle ‘goat plague’ outbreak
Spreading rapidly
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) poses no risk to human health but is a highly contagious disease affecting goats and sheep. It can kill up to 70% of affected animals.
The commercial import of certain commodities is already restricted to prevent the spread of PPR into Great Britain.
Greece first detected the PPR outbreak on 11th July and has since spread rapidly from farm to farm and into Romania.
Everyone can do their bit
The UK’s deputy chief veterinary officer Ele Brown said:
“An outbreak [of PPR] in the UK would lead to animal suffering and be very damaging for our farming and livestock industry.
“Everyone can do their bit to help stop animal diseases spreading to this country by simply not bringing unpackaged meat, cheese and milk on to our shores.”
Everyone can help to stop the spread of PPR to the UK by doing the following:
- If you are visiting PPR-affected countries, do not bring any sheep or goat products back to the UK
- If you are visiting EU or EFTA countries not affected by PPR, you must not bring back sheep or goat products unless commercially produced and packaged to EU standards
- Dispose of any leftovers or food waste in secure bins that sheep, goats, or wildlife cannot access
- Farmers, the public and members of the food industry should practice high biosecurity standards, including never feeding catering waste, kitchen scraps or meat or milk products to sheep and goats, which is illegal and can spread the disease.
Read more livestock news.
