AM: measures taken in connection with foot-and-mouth disease are effective

By: STA Date: 2025. 03. 14. 10:30

Hungarian disease control measures in connection with the foot-and-mouth disease virus are effective, therefore EU countries can lift import restrictions against Hungary. According to the European Commission’s implementing decision, an unlawful import ban cannot be applied due to the Hungarian animal health situation – the Minister of Agriculture said in a statement issued by the ministry on Thursday.

(Photo: Pixabay)

István Nagy drew attention to the fact that the European Commission has issued an implementing decision that serves to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. In addition to this decision, there is no place for other Member State measures that restrict the free movement of goods in the single internal market of the European Union or are contrary to the regulations of the Animal Health Regulation. The EU has thus approved that the Kisbajcs cattle farm and its 10-kilometer radius are a restricted area in which eradication and restrictive measures prescribed by EU legislation must be implemented. This also means that outside this area, “member states cannot introduce restrictive measures against our country”, which the committee drew attention to when the decision was published, he added.

István Nagy highlighted that, based on this, all member states must withdraw their import restrictive measures previously introduced under national jurisdiction

Hungary is prepared to introduce similar measures in response if another European member state does not withdraw its import restrictions – the head of the Ministry of Agriculture stated, according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s statement.

MTI