Germany Regains Foot-and-Mouth Disease-Free Status with Local Restrictions Remaining

The World Organisation for Animal Health reinstates Germany's disease-free status, though a containment zone in Brandenburg remains under trade restrictions.

The World Organisation for Animal Health has declared Germany free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), except for a containment zone around Hönow, Brandenburg.
The disease outbreak in January 2025 was the first in Germany in over 35 years and was limited to a single farm with no further spread detected.
Non-EU countries imposed broad import bans on German meat and dairy products, while the EU followed a regionalization approach, allowing trade from unaffected areas.
Exports of processed dairy products to China have resumed following successful negotiations, but restrictions remain for certain products to countries like the UK, Korea, and Japan.
Farmers and industry groups are calling for financial support and structural reforms to address economic losses and improve future outbreak responses.