Currently, the country has only one officially confirmed case of the disease, which was detected on January 10 in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin in the Brandenburg region.
Brandenburg’s state agriculture ministry confirmed the negative test result, stating: “At this point, there are no indications of the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.”
Containment Measures
Authorities continue intensive testing of animals on farms within the area surrounding the initial case. Quarantine zones remain in place, although some restrictions on animal transport have been lifted.
Impact on International Trade
Germany faces import bans on meat and dairy products imposed by countries such as the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Mexico.
Minister Oezdemir emphasized that Germany is making concerted efforts to contain the disease and restore the trust of international trading partners who have implemented these restrictions.
The European Commission stated that the principle of regionalization allows restrictions to apply only to products from areas where the disease has been confirmed. This means Germany can maintain access to EU markets if no further cases are detected.
FMD is a highly contagious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. While the disease poses no risk to humans, controlling it requires stringent quarantine and containment measures.
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