Morocco has suspended imports of animal feed from Germany following the detection of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the European country, according to Reuters.
Morocco’s National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) said, “The suspension applies to all untreated plant-based animal feed due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Germany,” noting that the ban would remain in effect until Germany regains its disease-free status or can certify regions that are free of contamination.
Germany reported its first case of foot-and-mouth disease in nearly 40 years on January 10, affecting a herd of water buffalo in the Brandenburg region near Berlin, no other cases have been detected so far. However, this discovery prompted several countries, including the UK, to impose trade restrictions on livestock-related products from Germany.
According to media reports, some shipments of forage barley originally destined for Morocco have been redirected to Tunisia, while other Moroccan importers have shifted their supplies to France.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral illness that affects domesticated ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. It causes fevers and mouth lesions but does not pose risk to human life. Although the disease remains endemic in certain regions, particularly in Africa, Morocco has not reported an outbreak since 2019.