The United Kingdom has temporarily banned the personal import of meat and dairy products from the EU after foot and mouth disease was reported in Germany. The British government announced that travellers entering the UK will not be allowed to bring cattle, sheep, goat and pig meat and dairy from the EU, as well as from the countries that are part of the European Free Trade Association (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), even for their personal use. The temporary ban has been implemented in the UK from April 12 onwards.

The ban also applies to sandwiches, cheese, cured meat, raw meat and unprocessed meat, regardless of their packaging or even if they were purchased from the duty-free. Products will be seized and destroyed at the borders if people try to bring them in. Besides, hefty fines of up to 5000 pounds (around 5845 euros) would be charged in serious cases. The restrictions apply only to the travellers arriving in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and not Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

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List of banned products
Beef, pork, mutton, goat, venison, lamb, other meat products like sausages, dairy products like yoghurt, cheese and butter are banned.
What is allowed?
People can bring up to 2kg per person of powdered infant milk, infant food, or special food needed for medical reasons.

What is foot and mouth disease?
A highly contagious viral disease of livestock, foot and mouth disease affects cattle, goats, swine, sheep and cloven-hoofed ruminants like deer, antelope and giraffes. An aphthovirus causes it, and it has many stereotypes. Each stereotype needs specific vaccines for immunity. It is the first disease for which the World Organisation for Animal Health established a list of disease-free members. The disease is found in all secretions, milk, semen and excretions of infected animals. The animals also breathe out a lot of viruses via aerosol.

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Does it affect humans?
It is not readily transmissible to humans. However, there are a few instances of the infection. The symptoms are mild fever, mouth sores, sore throat or hand and foot blisters.
Foot and mouth disease symptoms
1) Loss of appetite
2) Fever
3) Sudden death
4) Blisters on feet
5) Drooling
6) Drop in milk production
7) Reluctance to move

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