US bans British pork after foot and mouth outbreak

UNITED STATES: The US Department of Agriculture has banned pork and swine products from Britain after a case of foot and mouth disease was discovered on a farm in southern England.

The United States already has a prohibition on British ruminants such as cattle and sheep because of mad cow disease, but the USDA added swine after a foot and mouth (FMD) outbreak was discovered in a farm southwest of London.

“Immediately, USDA is placing restrictions or prohibitions, depending on the type of product and level of processing, on all UK products derived from any FMD susceptible species,” USDA official Andrea Morgan said in a statement.

Earlier.Canada announced it had banned imports of British livestock and animal products following the discovery of a case of foot and mouth disease on a farm in southern England.

“No susceptible animals or animal products from the United Kingdom are being permitted entry into Canada,” Minister of Agriculture Chuck Strahl said in a statement.

Meanwhile Belgian authorities said they had traced all livestock imports from Britain and had told the relevant farmers to inform them of any suspected foot and mouth disease cases.

Earlier French agriculture ministry said checks are being carried out on cattle, pigs, sheep and goats imported from Britain in the last 10 days while all regional services, particularly vets, have been alerted to visit farms concerned.

The ministry has barred any movement of cattle, pigs, sheep or goats, though animals going for slaughter are excepted.

Farmers told to maintain “the highest level of vigilance” for any suspect case of the disease.

In Germany a western sheep farm was quarantined Saturday as a “preventive measure” after it was found to have two sheep imported from Britain.

The authorities are looking at a total of six animal imports from Britain in the last 30 days, one of cattle and five of sheep. But an agriculture minister told the Tagespiegel am Sonntag newspaper they were not from the affected area.

The Irish agriculture ministry imposed an immediate ban on live animals, meat and non-pasteurised milk from Britain.

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said it has imposed a temporary ban on imports of pork from pigs reared in Britain.

Washington, Sunday, AFP