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HomeProteinMeatGerman meat exports to EU continue despite FMD case

German meat exports to EU continue despite FMD case

Germany’s agriculture ministry recently announced that despite a confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease affecting livestock in the country, sales of German meat and dairy products to the European Union are expected to continue. The case was confirmed last week in a herd of water buffalo on the outskirts of Berlin in the Brandenburg region, marking Germany’s first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in nearly 40 years.

Foot-and-mouth disease affects cloven-hoofed ruminants such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, and historically, major slaughtering campaigns have been necessary to eradicate the disease. While the disease poses no threat to humans, it often leads to bans on imports of meat and dairy products from affected countries. This has been the case with countries like Britain, South Korea, and Mexico, which have imposed import bans on German products in response to the recent outbreak.

The German government had initially expressed concerns that even a single case of foot-and-mouth disease could halt the country’s meat and dairy exports outside the EU. However, the agriculture ministry received positive news on Wednesday when the European Commission approved Germany’s decision to impose quarantine zones of approximately 10 kilometers around the affected farm. This decision allows for the use of the “rationalization” trade principle, which restricts imports only from the specific region where the disease has been confirmed, rather than from the entire affected country.

German Agriculture Minister, Cem Oezdemir, welcomed the Commission’s decision, stating that it was a relief for farmers. He emphasized that the quarantine area in Brandenburg had not been expanded, and products produced outside the affected zone could still be sold in the EU. This news comes as a ray of hope for German farmers, especially considering the challenges faced by the meat industry following the discovery of swine fever in 2020, which led to numerous import bans on German pork products.

On Tuesday, Germany reported that no new cases of foot-and-mouth disease had been found following extensive testing in the surrounding area of the initial outbreak. This development provides some reassurance to both domestic and international consumers of German meat and dairy products.

In conclusion, while the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany raised concerns about the country’s meat and dairy exports, the approval from the European Commission to continue sales to the EU provides a sense of stability for the agriculture industry. By implementing strict quarantine measures and adhering to EU regulations, Germany aims to maintain the integrity of its exports and ensure the safety of its products for consumers.