Title: London Prohibits Import of Meat from Germany
The recent case of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Brandenburg, Germany, has triggered a wave of responses globally. The UK, following Mexico and South Korea, has imposed an import ban on livestock from Germany, including cattle, pigs, and sheep. This decision was justified as a proactive measure to protect their farmers from the perils of FMD.
The UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs prohibited the import of both live and fresh meat from Germany in response to three buffalo's demise due to FMD. Despite no new infections being reported in Germany, the farmers' association remains concerned.
Within the EU, import restrictions are only in place for affected regions. The UK, however, chose a more aggressive approach, citing the need to safeguard its farmers. Agriculture Minister Daniel Zeichner emphasized the government's commitment to protect farmers from the FMD danger and promised to impose further bans if necessary.
Recalling the 2001 FMD outbreak in the UK, which resulted in the slaughter of ten million animals and economic losses of around £8.5 billion (approximately €10 billion), the British government is determined to learn from history.
Last week, three water buffalo on a farm in Märkisch-Oderland, Brandenburg, succumbed to FMD, marking a decade's absence of cases in Germany. Eleven more buffalo from the same farm were culled as a preventive measure. No subsequent FMD cases have been reported elsewhere.
The relevant veterinary offices investigated neighboring farms and established protection and surveillance zones. Contact with the outbreak farm could not be conclusively ruled out for other animals, necessitating their culling. In response, Brandenburg and other federal states imposed a temporary transport ban on pigs, sheep, cattle, and goats.
German farmers may face economic repercussions if export markets are adversely affected by FMD. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture has yet to provide an estimate, but Green Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is working diligently to reopen export markets.
The German Farmers' Association's general secretary, Bernhard Krüsken, expressed concern over market pressures on Monday, emphasizing the need for swift and consistent action. He speculated that FMD had been present in Germany since Christmas, given that the infected buffalo in Brandenburg carried antibodies.
Events like the Agricultural Show, 'Grüne Woche', starting in Berlin this Friday, will be devoid of cattle, pigs, and sheep. Lower Saxony has banned cloven-hoofed animal events until January 17 to prevent the entry of FMD into their state, which boasts a high number of livestock.
North Rhine-Westphalia has urged hunters to exercise heightened vigilance, urging them to avoid hunts or other animal-related events in the affected region. Wild animals, such as red, roe, or fallow deer, can also contract FMD.
FMD is a highly contagious viral infection affecting cloven-hoofed animals and many zoo and wild animals. Even though it poses no harm to humans, they can still transmit the virus. The global response to the outbreak highlights the potential economic and agricultural risks associated with the disease, requiring a coordinated effort to contain and mitigate its spread.
The UK's import ban extends to both live and fresh meat and meat products from Germany due to the FMD outbreak. To safeguard their farmers and learn from past experiences, the British government has imposed strict measures against potential FMD infections.
