On 10th January 2025, the German authorities notified a case of “foot and mouth disease (FMD)” in farmed water buffalo, in the Brandenburg area, near Berlin. This is the first outbreak in the country since 1988.

FMD is a notifiable disease according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). It is a highly contagious disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals, caused by a virus. Clinical signs include fever, salivation, lameness and blisters on the tongue, lips, mouth, teats and between the hooves. It can lead to marked production and economic losses, and although the mortality rate can vary from 1-20%, so most animals recover, the disease often leaves them weak and debilitated. 

FMD does not infect humans and does not pose a food safety risk. The virus is killed by being heat treated, or being exposed to a high or low pH.

The Government has advised they have suspended imports of the following commodities to Great Britain from Germany (this includes products from animals bred elsewhere but slaughtered in and exported from Germany):-

  • Live (including non-domestic) ungulates (ruminants and porcine animals, including wild game) and their germplasm
  • Fresh meat from ungulates 
  • Meat products from ungulates that have not been subject to specific treatment D1 or higher (including wild game)
  • Milk, colostrum and their products, unless subjected to treatment as defined in Article 4 of Regulation 2010/605
  • Animal by-products, unless treated to effectively mitigate the risk of FMD 
  • NOTE – transit shipments may potentially still be permitted, should the wording of the EHC allow this. Low risk products that do not require an EHC will still be permitted entry but must comply with GB legislation.

What is the impact on import/export?

DEFRA and APHA are still carrying out risk assessments and epidemiological investigations. WOAH states the virus incubation period can be up to 28 days.

In the meantime, DEFRA have asked that imported of potentially affected goods do not place them on the domestic market. They should be repatriated to Germany, which will require the permission of the German authorities.

Certain types of animal by-products (ABP) (not for human consumption) have no specific import rules laid down in the ABP Regulations and are not required to be imported with a health certificate – these are often referred to as ‘non-harmonised’ products.   

To prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), following a case being confirmed in Germany, IMP/GEN/2024/08 is being revoked and replaced with a new general import authorisation (IMP/GEN/2025/01), and IMP/GEN/2024/06 is being revoked and replaced with a new general import authorisation (IMP/GEN/2025/02).

How can Amivet help?

For any export to be successful, all aspects of the process require forward planning and attention to detail. Amivet Exports have the experience to guide you through this process, whether you are new to product export or not, so check out our top tips for EHC applications and get in touch early to discuss your requirements.

Written by Andrew Iveson on and tagged in Dairy, FMD, foot and mouth, milk, .