GettyImages-1783650372 (1)

Source: Getty Images

An outbreak of in Europe is causing concern among British livestock farmers

The UK food and farming sector is asking for more rigorous biosecurity measures to curb the threat of foot and mouth disease entering the country.

The industry is urging for stricter border controls and a full ban on travellers bringing any meat and dairy from Europe, over fears the outbreak in Germany two weeks ago may have been larger than initially thought.

Defra halted all imports of meat and dairy from Germany last week following confirmation that a herd of water buffalo on the outskirts of Berlin had tested positive for the highly infectious disease, which affects cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, sheep, and pigs.

The illness is not harmful to humans but can cause huge losses to the livestock industry. There are also fears the outbreak may have started elsewhere – UK chief veterinary officer Christine said this week the herd of buffalo tested positive for antibodies as well, suggesting they’d been infected for some time before they died.

It is not yet known where the virus came from or where it has since spread to, as people and vehicles moving in and out of the area could have been unwittingly spreading the disease for some time.

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

“On that basis we should treat all movements from the European Union – both of individuals and vehicles – as a potential risk and take precautions such as disinfectant mats at all points of entry including ports, airports, Channel Tunnel and Eurostar.”

British authorities have imposed restrictions on imports of meat and meat products from Germany, which include hides and skins and blood products, as well as milk and dairy products.

It is now also prohibited for individual travellers to bring unpackaged meat and dairy products into the country from anywhere in the EU, with all products – both packaged and unpackaged – being prohibited from Germany.

However, the BMPA says these restrictions will be difficult to enforce at the border and risk not being properly followed by travellers “who may not realise that a packaged product bought in France, for example, actually originated in Germany”.

“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,” Allen 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.”

Read more: Supply concerns as German meat & dairy exports banned after foot and mouth disease outbreak

The possibility of the disease entering the UK is causing major concern amongst farmers, according to the chief of the National Sheep Association Phil Stocker, who recalls the tragic outbreaks of 2001 and 2007.

The 2001 outbreak resulted in the slaughter of over six million animals and caused financial losses estimated at £8bn at the time.

“It’s the last thing we want to see here in Britain – we are already suffering from Bluetongue and Schmallenberg virus adding demand on veterinary resources and of course news of FMD will always bring back memories of the pain and the costs to UK farmers of from the devastating outbreak back in 2001”, said NSA CEO Stocker.

He added: “Any disease outbreak results in significant private and public costs, as well as serious animal and human welfare implications. As many farmers look to the new season with lambing just around the corner, this could be a worrying time.

“It is hoped that traceability in Germany will quickly identify where the disease has been introduced from and if any further livestock holdings both in Germany or further afield are known to be at significant risk.”

With many symptoms having similarities to those of the virus that is still present in the UK, the NSA is urging farmers to continue to be vigilant to signs of disease within their flocks and to ensure biosecurity measures are followed “to the highest possible level”.