Kingdom
6 August 2007
The Department of Agriculture welcomes the self-imposed embargo by the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) of the United
Kingdom on the export of cloven-hoofed animals and products derived thereof,
following an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Surrey.
The British Government placed the farm and the surrounding area under
quarantine to contain the disease.
The South African government confirms that until further notice, no
veterinary import permits will be issued for cloven-hoofed animals and products
derived thereof, originating from the United Kingdom. En route consignments
will be detained at the ports of entry and unused veterinary import permits
will be cancelled. Animal products subjected to a process complying with
international requirements to ensure the satisfactory inactivation of the foot
and mouth disease (FMD) virus are excluded from the suspension.
South Africa has surveillance and control programmes in place for FMD and
earned the international free from FMD status from the World Organisation for
Animal Health (OIE) through years of dedicated animal disease control.
No animal or animal product (including samples) may be imported without a
veterinary import permit and all consignments of animals or animal products
must be cleared at the port of entry by officials of the Department of
Agriculture.
For further information contact:
Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole
Chief of Communications: Department of Agriculture
Tel: 012 319 6042
Fax: 012 319 7828
Cell: 083 265 8728
E-mail: CDCoC@nda.agric.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture
6 August 2007
