Meat processors call for tougher FMD measures

Tougher and more rigorous measures to repel foot-and mouth-disease (FMD) are needed – that’s the call from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA).

In addition, the association argues that travellers should be banned from bringing any meat and dairy produce from the EU into the country.

Calls for disinfectant mats for vehicle tyres and footwear at all entry points to the UK have also been made, to prevent FMD from entering the country.

See also: GB import ban on German livestock following FMD outbreak

The disease was recently reported in a herd of 14 water buffalo in the Märkisch-Oderland district of Brandenburg, east of Berlin – the first outbreak of FMD in the country since 1988.

Three animals died and the rest were put down.

Latest news from Germany highlights that tests in the immediate area have found no further cases.

UK measures

The UK government has so far banned commercial imports of meat and dairy products from Germany, as well as restricting some products that individual travellers can bring home with them from the EU.

Tougher measure must be employed at UK borders, said Nick Allen, BMPA chief executive officer.

“While prohibiting the importation of at-risk products from Germany is essential, until we learn otherwise, we have to assume that there is a risk that this disease could have already moved outside the area of the original outbreak and, potentially beyond the borders of Germany,” he said.

“A simpler and more effective way to stop travellers bringing back potentially infected product would be to impose a temporary blanket ban on all meat and dairy products from the EU, coupled with a system of random spot checks.

“By allowing people to bring back some, but not all meat and dairy products from the EU, we are relying on individuals to determine the origin of those products, which may not be immediately obvious.”