International trade: Customer Information Notes - GEN/2008/85
UK Trade Restrictions due to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
This Customer Information Note reflects the latest official information we have received from overseas governments in relation to restrictions they may have imposed on UK exports as a direct result of the FMD incident in Surrey last year.
Background
Following confirmation of FMD on 03 August 2007, the EU and some third countries (countries outside the EU) imposed FMD-related restrictions on the export of susceptible commodities from the UK. In addition, some export health certificates could not be used because they contained FMD assurances which could no longer be certified.
On 31 December 2007, the EU lifted its FMD controls on exports of susceptible commodities from the United Kingdom.
On 19 February 2008, the UK regained its status as a country officially free from FMD (without vaccination) in accordance with Article 2.2.10.8 of the OIE's Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
FMD Export Recovery Programme
When FMD was confirmed in Surrey last year, Defra’s International Animal Health Division (IAH) expanded its stakeholder forum, the Export Certification User Group, to identify the UK industry’s priority markets on which to target resources for the re-opening of export trade.
This was followed by a strategy being drawn up between IAH and the industry to invest a small proportion (about £150k) of the £12m Hilary Benn made available for FMD recovery. This strategy has enjoyed a great deal of success and represents an excellent example of Defra/industry partnership and cost and responsibility sharing. Some examples of priority countries which have lifted their FMD restrictions and where trade routes have been re-opened include: USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Philippines, UAE, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.
Table of Trade restrictions
Even if an importing country has removed its FMD restrictions, there may still be situations where restrictions or prohibitions on exports from the UK continue to apply.
For example, the importing country may have revised its import conditions to exclude commodities which were produced when the UK was not free from FMD. There may also be occasions where the importing country requires the UK to have been free from FMD for the past 12 months or the export health certificate contains other clauses which cannot be signed, such as country freedom from bluetongue.
Country |
Restriction |
Albania |
All live susceptible animals and unprocessed meat and milk from England |
Algeria |
All susceptible livestock and their products from England. |
Angola |
All live animals, genetic material, products and sub-products of all cloven-hoofed animals (bovine, caprine, porcine, antelope and buffalo). |
Antigua & Barbuda |
Meat and dairy products from UK. |
Argentina |
FMD restrictions in place. Bovine semen certificate available |
Australia |
FMD restrictions lifted, however some exclusions still apply |
Barbados |
All susceptible livestock and their products. However, the authorities permit the import of pasteurised milk & dairy products subject to revised certification, which is now available. |
Brazil |
All susceptible livestock and their products |
Canada |
FMD restrictions lifted. |
Cayman Islands |
FMD restrictions lifted, however some exclusions still apply |
Chile |
FMD- related trade restrictions have been lifted. However, bluetongue exclusions are in place for ruminants animals and their genetic material |
China |
All even-toed ungulates and their products from UK. |
Colombia |
Susceptible species and products that pose a risk of transmitting the virus for 6 months |
Dominica |
All susceptible livestock and their products, including beef & pasteurised dairy products from UK. |
Grenada |
Livestock and livestock products from the Surveillance Zone. |
Hong Kong |
FMD restrictions lifted. |
Indonesia |
Live animals and animal products of ruminant and pig origin (including raw material of animal origin from ruminants, pigs and all kinds of those species). |
Jamaica |
All susceptible livestock and products (including germplasm) from the UK. Other related commodities will be considered on a case-by-case basis. |
Japan |
Pigs, meat and viscera derived from pigs and their products, from the UK. |
Malaysia |
FMD restrictions lifted. Exports of breeding pigs, porcine semen, pig meat/pig meat to recommence |
Mexico |
All susceptible animals and their products, including germplasm from UK. |
New Zealand |
FMD restrictions lifted. |
Peru |
Live ruminants and pigs, semen & embryos and all unprocessed products and meats derived from these animals which are deemed to be susceptible from UK. |
Philippines |
FMD restrictions lifted |
Russian Federation |
FMD restrictions on all susceptible commodities. Exports of breeding pigs from Northern Ireland allowed. |
Republic of Korea |
Pigs and pig products from UK. |
Saudi Arabia |
Cattle, sheep, goats & deer originating from the county of Surrey |
Serbia |
FMD restrictions remain |
Singapore |
FMD restrictions lifted, however some exclusions still apply |
South Africa |
FMD restrictions lifted. |
St Lucia |
All susceptible livestock and their products, including beef, from UK. |
St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
All susceptible livestock and their products from England. We have been informed by the British High Commission that this does not extend to pasteurised products. |
Taiwan |
All animals products (from cattle, pigs, sheep, deer etc) from UK. |
Thailand |
FMD restrictions lifted to enable exports of livestock/livestock products to recommence |
Turkey |
FMD restrictions lifted to enable exports of pigmeat and pigmeat products (including sausages) to recommence Bluetongue restrictions in place on the trade in ruminant animals, ruminant genetic material and ruminant meat/blood from England. |
UAE |
FMD restrictions in place. Exports of susceptible commodities from Wales permitted. |
Ukraine |
All susceptible livestock and raw meats or products derived thereof from England. |
Uruguay |
All susceptible livestock and their products from the UK. |
USA |
FMD restrictions lifted except exports from SURREY |
Vietnam |
All susceptible livestock and their products from the UK. |
If a country does not appear in the table below, then it means that we do not have any official information available for that country.
Therefore, as with any export, exporters are reminded of their responsibility to confirm the current import conditions and the status of any restrictions which may apply to their proposed export by contacting the relevant authorities in the destination country. More general advice for exporters is available.
Exporters are also advised to contact their local Animal Health Divisional Office (see link under Further Enquiries below) to make sure that a suitable export health certificate exists and that they can comply with it.
Further Information
- Customer Information Notes (CINs) about international trade.
- A list of our currently available export health certificates.
Further Enquiries
If you have a general export query or if you wish to apply for an export health certificate, please contact your local Animal Health Division Office.
Page published: 12 May, 2008