There has been inaccurate media coverage regarding foot and mouth disease (FMD) controls with reports that it took six or seven days for controls on commercial imports to take effect and “allowed disease to enter the country.”
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 10 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.
A Defra spokesperson 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 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"We ensured that auto-clearance facilities were superseded by robust biosecurity controls which were implemented at pace following confirmation of the outbreak."
To read more about the robust action we took you can read the Farming Minister’s urgent statement to the House of Commons Statement on Foot and Mouth Disease - GOV.UK
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