August 21, 2007

USDA lifts foot-and-mouth trade restrictions for Northern Ireland
 

The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said Friday it is lifting trade restrictions imposed on Northern Ireland after foot-and-mouth disease was detected in Surrey, England, on Aug 3.

The change was with immediate effect, the APHIS said.

Since Aug 3, Northern Ireland has provided information to APHIS documenting that officials took immediate steps to close borders and prevent the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease, according to the APHIS.

"Based on this information, APHIS is confident that Northern Ireland is FMD free and that trade can safely resume," the announcement said.

Trade restrictions remain in place for the rest of the UK.

Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, swine and other cloven-hooved animals. Foot-and-mouth is not transmittable from animals to humans, but it does have serious implications for animal agriculture in any country where the disease is detected.