Foot and Mouth Disease
The US Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release pertaining to all animals/persons wishing to enter the US:
The United States Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on August 3 notified U.S. Customs and Border Protection that Foot and Mouth Disease has been diagnosed in cattle in the United Kingdom.
Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious, viral disease of cattle, swine and other cloven-hoofed animals, such as goats and sheep. The virus is not transmitted from animals to humans, but does have serious implications for livestock in any country where the disease is detected.
CBP is firmly committed to preventing the introduction into the U.S. of Foot and Mouth Disease. In response to the outbreak in the U.K., CBP is taking the following actions:
- Importation of live ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) and ruminant products is currently prohibited entry due to the U.K.Ғs bovine spongiform encephalopathy status. With the recent diagnosis of Foot and Mouth Disease in the U.K., the importation of live pigs is now prohibited, and swine meat and by-products are also prohibited and must be refused entry.
- Passengers on private, charter, military and commercial aircraft will be questioned and their baggage examined if they have visited a farm or ranch in the U.K. during the past 30 days.
- All pork and pork products found in the baggage of passengers arriving in the U.S. from the U.K. will be confiscated by CBP.
- CBP Agriculture Specialists will disinfect all footwear and equipment worn or used on a farm, ranch, or pasture in the U.K.
- Commercial shipments of live pigs and pork by-products from the U.K. will be refused entry and must be destroyed or exported.
- Commercial shipments of pork and pork products with an arrival date of August 3, 2007 and thereafter are subject to the prohibition.