Ministry of Agriculture: Hungary regains freedom from foot-and-mouth disease

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The request was submitted by the professional working group of the Hungarian veterinary authority, which was accepted by the organisation, so the country is once again considered free from FMD – he added. He recalled that the presence of the FMD virus was identified by the Nébih laboratory in five farms (Kisbajcs, Levél, Darnózseli, Dunakiliti, Rábapordány) in the spring of 2025. The authority has not confirmed a single new case since mid-April. As a result, on 6 June 2025, the last protection and surveillance zone, as well as the areas subject to further restrictions, were lifted, which also resulted in the lifting of domestic restrictions. Furthermore, with the lifting of the restricted zones, trade within the European Union can resume without disruption. Subsequently, a working group of animal health experts prepared Hungary’s exemption application. Based on the information presented, the WOAH accepted the application and, according to their information, our country has been officially free from the RSZKF disease as of 10 September 2025. The regained exemption can significantly contribute to restoring the smoothness of trade with third countries.

The minister highlighted that the RSZKF disease, which causes significant economic damage, has not occurred in Hungary for 50 years, and has now affected more than 19,000 animals

Following the identification of the virus, the authorities immediately introduced measures, and an Operational Team was formed. During the epidemic and in the months following the last outbreak, experts conducted comprehensive tests on thousands of farms and wildlife nationwide, with negative results everywhere, which allowed for the application for a reassessment of the exemption. Prevention and continuous monitoring remain of paramount importance. Animal health experts are continuously working across the country to maintain the safety of livestock. The role of farmers remains crucial: consistent compliance with epidemiological regulations is essential for the protection of livestock. Only by assuming joint responsibility can we ensure that epidemics are avoided in the future – the minister emphasized.

MTI