‘Toughen our borders’ plea as foot-and-mouth found in Hungary

UK farming groups have called for tougher border checks, after foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was confirmed in cattle in Hungary.

Hungary’s National Food Chain Safety Authority carried out testing after symptoms were discovered on a farm with 1,400 cattle in early March, which has now been confirmed as FMD.

The disease has not been found in Hungary in more than 50 years and the country’s chief veterinary officer has put in place immediate precautions, including movement restrictions to try to prevent the highly contagious disease spreading.

See also: Concerns raised over Defra’s response to FMD threat

Kate Adams, senior European policy adviser at the British Agriculture Bureau, said: “The farm was immediately closed, and an epidemiological investigation has been launched.

“Eradication of the herd and the tracing of the source of infection are ongoing.”

Risk to UK

The UK imported almost 2,000 tonnes of pork from Hungary in 2024, and UK farming organisations have called for the immediate ban of all meat imports from Hungary as a precaution.

NFU Scotland vice-president Robert Neill said: “All Scottish livestock producers, whether they keep cattle, sheep or pigs, will be hugely concerned that there has been another confirmed case of foot-and-mouth in mainland Europe and will look to the government to double down on the nation’s border control measures.

“This is a highly contagious disease that has the potential to destroy herds and businesses – at the very worst wipe out the livestock sector completely.

“It is important to stress there is no danger to humans or food safety, nor is this disease present anywhere in the UK, but its presence in Europe will send a chill through the livestock industry here.”

The confirmation of FMD in Hungary follows on from an isolated case of FMD in Germany at the start of the year, which led to the introduction of immediate import restrictions on German meat products.

‘Tighter borders security’

The Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) recently submitted evidence to the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee, confirming that 22 tonnes of illegal meat seizures were made in January alone.

Mr Fell said: “NFU Scotland has long called for tighter border security on all food imports, and we need these to be robust and enforced without fail.

“Illegal meat imports continue to flood into this country at an alarming rate.”

Defra published a series of posters on 7 March for the industry, showing the signs of FMD in livestock, in case an outbreak was to occur in the UK.

The British Meat Processors Association said the discovery of FMD in Hungary underlined its calls for the UK government to place a blanket ban on all personal imports of meat products by travellers coming into the UK.