The United Kingdom has enforced a ban on passengers bringing meat and dairy products from Europe as of April 28, 2025, due to the increased threat of foot and mouth disease, following a risk assessment by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). The move comes amid outbreaks in Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary, aiming to prevent a repeat of the catastrophic 2001 crisis.
On April 28, 2025, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the UK government body responsible for safeguarding the natural environment and supporting the food and farming industries, announced a ban on passengers importing meat and dairy products from Europe to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease.
The measure comes after Defra’s recent risk assessment warned of the “silent spread” of the disease, capable of incubating undetected in animals for up to two weeks. Current outbreaks in Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary have raised concerns about the virus crossing into the UK, prompting urgent preventive action.
According to Defra, the risk level for the disease entering Britain was classified as “medium,” suggesting regular potential entry through personal travel, commercial shipments, or illegal trade routes. The devastating 2001 outbreak serves as a grim reminder, when six million cows and sheep were culled, leading to economic damages equivalent to around £15 billion today.
The new restrictions, however, do not apply to commercial imports or to Northern Ireland. Defra emphasized that the disease could easily spread via the unrestricted movement of infected animals and products across EU countries. Furthermore, the risk of wild animal infections, particularly among boar and deer, remains a significant concern for controlling outbreaks.
Officials have stressed that if foot and mouth disease spreads further across the EU, the UK’s current risk could escalate to “high,” necessitating even stricter measures.
The government has urged travelers to strictly comply with the new regulations, viewing them as critical to protecting both the nation’s agriculture sector and economy from another major crisis.
