FMD export restrictions to EU lifted for most of UK

The European Commission has agreed to limit the ban on exports of animals and products affected by the Foot and Mouth outbreak to the 10km surveillance zone surrounding the site of the outbreak in Surrey.

The Commission’s Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health supported the Commission’s Decision to limit the restrictions on export of live animals, meat and meat products to the 10km zone surrounding the outbreak. The Decision will come into force on 25 August.

Export procedures will revert to their pre-Foot and Mouth Disease status for most of the UK with the exception of the 10km zone in Surrey.

The Decision should have a positive effect on Defra’s efforts to re-establish trade relations with non-EU countries following the outbreak. Currently 29 non-EU Member States have established restrictions on the import of British products. On Monday Defra met with industry organisations, including Food from Britain, to prioritise countries with whom to re-establish trade. The EU’s confidence in the safety of British food and drink will bolster this work.

For further information about the international trade situation, visit our Foot and Mouth update page.

23 August 2007