Reports from German health authorities or the World Organisation for Animal Health

UK Bans Livestock Imports From Germany After Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak in Water Buffalo Herd

Jan 14, 2025, 11:05 AM

The UK has banned the import of cattle, pigs, and sheep from Germany following the confirmation of a foot-and-mouth disease case in the country. This decision aims to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease to Britain. The outbreak, the first in Germany since 1988, was detected in a water buffalo herd in Brandenburg, near Berlin. As a result, Germany is facing significant export restrictions, with countries like South Korea and the UK imposing bans on German meat products. The German meat industry estimates the financial impact of these restrictions at around half a billion euros. In response to the outbreak, pre-emptive culling of animals has been carried out in Germany, and zoos and petting zoos in Berlin have been closed as a precautionary measure. The German authorities have reported no additional cases of the disease beyond the initial outbreak.