Transport ban imposed on calves amid German foot-and-mouth outbreak

Agriculture Minister Femke Wiersma has announced a transport ban on thousands of calves in the Netherlands following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (MKZ) among water buffalos in Brandenburg, Germany. As of December 1, at least 3,600 calves originating from the affected German state have been distributed across more than 125 farms throughout the Netherlands, Minister Wiersma said. The transport ban prohibits the movement of animals from these farms, except for those sent to slaughter.

The Stichting Brancheorganisatie Kalversector, an industry group for the veal sector, had already implemented its own transport ban earlier on Saturday. LTO Nederland, a national farmers’ association, noted that the measures align with broader efforts to protect the livestock sector.

Wiersma reassured the public that there is no evidence or suspicion of foot-and-mouth disease at any Dutch farms. "There is currently no indication of a concerning situation within the Netherlands," she stated.

"These measures are precautionary to limit any potential spread of the MKZ virus," Wiersma wrote in a letter to Tweede Kamer. The government has also introduced an immediate ban on visitors to veal calf farms. Only essential personnel, such as veterinarians, are permitted entry under strict conditions.

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is conducting investigations into affected farms and tracking potentially high-risk imports. The NVWA has also begun reanalyzing recent bluetongue samples, which previously tested negative, for traces of the MKZ virus. These additional steps aim to identify and mitigate any possible risks stemming from the German outbreak.