FMD in Japan and Korea

For more information please see: http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/commissions/en/eufmd/eufmd/html

http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/41702/icode/

Defra's assessment is that there is a continual low risk of introduction of FMD into the UK (and the EU) from currently affected regions around the world. The risk would relate mainly to possible illegal imports as legal imports of FMD-susceptible animals and their products from affected regions are not permitted. The latest outbreaks in Japan, South Korea and China do not change this assessment of the level of risk. http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/monitoring/documents/fmd-asia100423.pdf http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/monitoring/documents/fmd-eastasia100427.pdf

These developments again emphasise the need for keepers of FMD-susceptible animals in the UK to maintain vigilance and promptly report any suspect cases, and uphold biosecurity measures, including strictly observing the ban on swill feeding.

The Scottish Government will be keeping the situation under review.

Measures being taken to minimise the risk of foot and mouth disease (FMD) from Asia entering Scotland

The following is a response to a query regarding whether any additional Government resource, through Customs and Excise, is being directed towards prioritising the inspection process on the movements of people or food products from the affected countries to minimise any threat of FMD being brought into the UK from China, Japan or South Korea.

You will be aware that FMD is endemic in much of Asia and the recent outbreaks in Japan and South Korea highlight this underlying risk. Japan and South Korea are actually of less concern than other countries in the region since they apply a stamping out policy and aim to maintain freedom from FMD. The FMD serotype in circulation there, is highly transmissible, affecting a wide range of host species, and can cause sub-clinical infection. Just to confirm, the recent warning from the Food and Agriculture Agency of the United Nations (FAO) was issued because the global pandemic of 2001 is believed to have begun in East Asia by a similar pattern of events involving the same serotype. The countries currently affected are not approved for export of live animals or products of animal origin of FMD susceptible species to the EU or UK. The main threat to Scotland would result from feeding livestock illegally imported products, hence the timely reminder to livestock keepers that they adhere to the EU ban on feeding animal by-products, including kitchen waste, to livestock and to continue to maintain high standards of on-farm biosecurity.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) are responsible for anti-smuggling controls at the GB border on products of animal origin. This includes checks on passengers, post and freight. Defra and UKBA continue to work together to ensure that UKBA delivers an enforcement strategy that targets the entry routes that pose the greatest threat of introducing animal disease and responds flexibly to changing patterns in risk. Defra provide UKBA with a global risk map which categorises countries into RED, AMBER and GREEN risks according to the prevalence of animal diseases that can be transmitted in products and assists customs targeting of traffic from high risk countries and regions. This has been updated to reflect the current situation with regards to FMD in Asia.

UKBA also uses other information to assist targeting including historical data on type of products, high-risk routings and origin, methods of concealment and risk trends; specific intelligence; results of operational checks; and information from other enforcement agencies.

Defra have also alerted the Local Port Health Authorities who are responsible for veterinary checks on commercial imports of relevant products at Border Inspection Posts (BIPs). Scotland currently has no BIPs approved for the importation of products such as meat from FMD susceptible species so we work closely with Defra and other EU Member States to ensure that controls on both legal and illegal imports are as tight as they can be within the European single market.

We participate actively in Defra's risk assessments and risk management decisions through regular meetings of veterinary experts to ensure that Scotland's interests are safeguarded.

Alison Rock
Animal Disease – Preparedness and Control
Environment and Rural Directorate
Pentland House (Room 358)
47 Robb's Loan
Edinburgh EH14 1TY
0131 244 3375