UK puts ban on EU travellers to stop spread of foot-and-mouth disease

The UK has introduced a specific ban on travellers from Europe to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. It comes amid a rise of the highly-contagious disease across the continent, with some nations choosing to close border crossings.

Anyone heading into Britain is not allowed to bring meat, including pork, beef, lamb, mutton, and goat meat, as well as milk and dairy products. The temporary rule also includes sandwiches, cheeses, cured meats and raw meats. Travellers found with these products face a fine of up to £5,000.

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at a farm outside Berlin in January sparked the UK government to put bans on imports of cattle, sheep, pig meat and dairy products from Germany. Restrictions were then put on Hungary, Slovakia and Austria after cases spread across Europe.

In Hungary, thousands of cattle were slaughtered following their first outbreak of the disease for over 50 years. Meanwhile, Austria and Slovakia closed dozens of border crossings in a bid to stop the spread of the disease.

Although foot-and-mouth disease poses no danger to humans, it can quickly spread among animals, causing fever and mouth blisters for cattle, sheep and goats.

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said: “This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot-and-mouth.

"That is why we are further strengthening protections by introducing restrictions on personal meat and dairy imports to prevent the spread of the disease and protect Britain’s food security.”

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth in the UK in 2001 cost the country over £8bn. Over 2,000 animals were then culled to control a further outbreak of the disease in 2007.

Some items, including infant formula milk, medical foods, chocolate, bread, cakes, biscuits and pasta are exempt from the latest restrictions.