The United States and Canada have lifted the foot‑and‑mouth disease (FMD) import restrictions on animals and animal products from Germany, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday. The limits had been imposed after an outbreak on a farm in Brandenburg in January 2025. With the reopening, German exporters can again ship fresh meat, processed meat products, composite foods and dairy items such as cheese.
Federal agriculture minister Alois Rainer (CSU) said that the battle against FMD has paid off and will now be rewarded. He added that Canada and the US are the next markets to remove their restrictions, noting that “by reopening and tapping crucial markets we are gradually realizing a central pillar of our export strategy”. This development is a welcome gain for the country’s agriculture, food industry and livestock farms.
The first case of FMD in Germany in more than 35 years was recorded in January 2025 among water buffalo in Märkisch‑Oderland, Brandenburg; no other cases were found. In April 2025 the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reinstated Germany’s status as FMD‑free without the need for vaccination. Following that announcement, several countries already lifted their import bans.