Foot And Mouth Disease: Current Status Update
Current cases of foot and mouth disease, trade restrictions and risk level.
Contents:
If you suspect foot and mouth disease in your animals, you must report it immediately by calling 03000 200 301 in England, 0300 303 8268 in Wales or your local Field Services Office in Scotland.
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) affects cloven-hoofed animals including:
- cattle
- sheep
- pigs
- goats
- camelids
- deer
It does not affect humans.
Livestock keepers must be vigilant to signs of disease and practise good biosecurity .
Current cases in Europe
There are currently no cases in the UK, but there have recently been confirmed cases in:
- Germany (January 2025)
- Hungary (March 2025)
- Slovakia (March 2025)
The last outbreak in the UK was in 2007.
RestrictionsBringing food into Great Britain for personal use
You must not bring meat or dairy products from certain animals (including cows, sheep, pigs and goats) into Great Britain for personal use if those goods are from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia or Austria.
You can bring these products from other EU countries, but certain restrictions apply. Check the rules for bringing food into Great Britain for personal use .
Commercial trade
There are restrictions on commercially importing certain products from:
- any EU country with FMD (Germany, Hungary and Slovakia)
- Austria, because of a case near the Hungarian-Austrian border
The restrictions apply to:
- hay and straw
- any live animal belonging to an FMD-susceptible species
Restrictions also apply to the following products from FMD-susceptible animals:
- germplasm
- fresh meat
- meat products, unless suitably heat treated
- milk and dairy products, unless suitably treated
- animal by-products, such as pet food
Traders must check the rules for imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products .
Risk levels and outbreak assessments
The risk of FMD entering the UK is currently assessed as medium.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foot-and-mouth-disease-latest-situation