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Foot-and-mouth import ban extended to EU
The ban includes cured meat, cheeses and milk.
Travellers can not bring meat into the UK for personal use.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has extended a ban of personal imports of meat and dairy products to cover all European Union (EU) countries.

Effective 12 April, travellers are no longer able to import cattle, sheep, goat and pig meat products from EU countries into Great Britain for personal use. This includes sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meat and milk.

These latest restrictions follow previous bans earlier this year on imports from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria, after confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth disease from or around these countries.

Defra says that these new restrictions on EU countries would safeguard the UK against changing disease risk and protect the health of British livestock. It says that it has provided clear rules for travellers, helping them to comply with regulations.

The new restrictions apply only to those travelling into Great Britain and will not be imposed on personal imports arriving into Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

Foot-and-mouth disease does not pose a risk to humans. However, it is a highly contagious disease among cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals.

Although there are currently no cases in the UK, an outbreak in the continent presents a significant risk to farm businesses and livestock.

Jorge Martin-Almagro, UK deputy chief veterinary officer for international trade and affairs, said: “Robust contingency plans are already in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security. This biosecurity measure combined with all others we have implemented are critical to limit the risk of FMD incursion.   
   
“I would urge livestock keepers to continue exercising the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, ensure scrupulous biosecurity is maintained and to report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.”

Clinical signs vary depending on the animals. Cattle may present with sores and blisters on their feet, mouth and tongue, as well as fever and lameness. Sheep and pigs may show lameness, with potential for blistering.

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."