Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak in Hungary – Import Restrictions and Safeguard Measures
Following confirmation on 7th March 2025 by the Hungarian Chief Veterinary Officer of the detection of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) of confirmed cases in a dairy herd in the Gyor area of Hungary, close to the Slovakia border, Hungary has now lost its FMD free status.
As such, EHCs for export of relevant products of animal origin from FMD susceptible animals in Hungary to GB can no longer be certified.
We must suspend the import of the following commodities to Great Britain from Hungary, following an outbreak of FMD that was confirmed on 7th March 2025:
- 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
These restrictions are set out in the relevant lists on GOV UK.
An OVS note will be released shortly
Further safeguard measures restricting the commercial import of animal by-products and hay and straw from Hungary, unless treated to effectively mitigate the risk of FMD, will be published in due course.
Traders have been asked to suspend imports of impacted products from Hungary whilst the Hungarian authorities investigate the outbreak.
Where goods are currently being held at the GB border due to the FMD outbreak in Hungary, Port Health Authorities and Local Authorities are asked to support businesses to return goods to Hungary, with agreement of the veterinary authorities in the EU, using standard processes.
Investigations in Hungary relating to the emergence of disease and possible distribution is not complete. Much of it will be safe but the GB authorities will aim to trace and remove those products that which originated close to the outbreak, in a timeframe where FMD infection or contamination is possible.
FMD – Acceptable documents for low-risk meat and dairy products
The following documentation may be accepted as evidence that low-risk products or ingredients from Hungarian FMD-susceptible animals, that do not need to be accompanied by an Export Health Certificate (EHC), have been subject to the required heat treatments:
- a dated manufacturers certificate or statement that relates to the specific goods in the consignment.
- copies of manufacturing records showing accurate temperatures have been maintained throughout the production process.
Important: Please check the documentation to make sure you are satisfied that the specific products and ingredients in the consignment have undergone the required treatment.
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