Information on foot and mouth disease (FMD)

The restriction due to suspicion of FMD in Denmark have been lifted

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration have lifted the restrictions on the Danish Crown slaughterhouse in Holstebro, which was temporary closed earlier today due to a clinical suspicion of FMD. The regional veterinary officers did not find any clinical signs of FMD in the herd of origin and did not find any clinical signs of FMD in any other animal at the slaughterhouse.

Foot and mouth disease has not occurred in Denmark since 1983, and Denmark is recognised by the OIE as an FMD-free country, where vaccination is not practised.

Outbreak in UK
There has been no import of live cloven-hoofed animals to Denmark from UK since 22 May 2007.

It is important to note that the incubation period of FMD is 14 days.

The entire Danish veterinary control and surveillance system is on continuous alert, and all precautions will be maintained until the FMD situation in the United Kingdom is normalized.

Import restrictions
The European Commission has prohibited any movement of live cloven-hoofed animals out of the United Kingdom.

Further, the Danish veterinary authorities play a key role in connection to import of live animals to Denmark. According to EU-legislation the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration shall in advance authorize any import of live animals to Denmark. In case a consignment may constitute a risk to humans or animals, the import will not be allowed.

Clearly, any import that constitutes a risk of spreading FMD will not be allowed.