The U.Okay. authorities launched a marketing campaign Thursday urging British holidaymakers to not carry international meat and dairy merchandise again into the nation.
London desires to guard British livestock from an infection with foot-and-mouth illness, which has reappeared on the European continent this yr.
“It’s unlawful for vacationers getting into GB to carry with them untreated meat or dairy merchandise together with lamb, pork, mutton, venison and goat meat, and all different merchandise created from these meats or containing them — resembling sandwiches and sausages — from the EU,” the federal government stated in a press launch.
Helene Hayman, the U.Okay.’s biosecurity minister, added: “We’re asking the general public to take this significantly. Don’t carry prohibited animal or plant merchandise into the nation — doing so places farmers’ livelihoods in danger.”
The U.Okay. Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss stated: “I do know it’s disappointing not to have the ability to carry again produce out of your holidays, however please keep away from temptation — you’ll be doing all of your bit to assist defend our hard-working farmers.”
The extremely infectious illness, which primarily impacts cloven-hoofed animals resembling cattle, goats, pigs and sheep, unfold in Germany, Hungary and Slovakia between January and April this yr, however was ultimately contained by the authorities. Any proof of the virus contained in the EU needs to be reported to the authorities.
Imported animal merchandise can unfold the virus, since it may be carried in meat, dairy merchandise and even processed meals. The virus can be able to surviving outdoors a bunch, for instance in soil, water, hay and even on human clothes. The illness is usually not harmful to people however can devastate a herd of cattle.
Whereas vaccinations towards the virus exist, preventive jabs will not be permitted by the EU, as a result of it’s exhausting for vets to tell apart between contaminated and vaccinated animals. Contaminated animals are normally culled.
In 2001, a significant outbreak of the illness within the U.Okay. led to the slaughtering of 6 million cows and sheep, inflicting an estimated £8 billion in financial injury.