Guidance

10 July 2025: Outbreaks of lumpy skin disease in France and Italy

Updated 10 July 2025

OVS note number: 2025/50 

Date: 10 July 2025 

Purpose 

To inform you that, due to a recent outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in France, safeguard declarations have now been published to restrict imports of the following bovine commodities from France: 

  • hides and skins, unless treated in line with point 2b, c, or d of Article 11.9.13 of the WOAH terrestrial code  
  • all other animal by-products of bovine origin (except gelatine and collagen, tallow, and hooves and horns), unless they have undergone heat treatment to a minimum internal temperature of 65°C for at least 30 minutes  
  • milk and milk products, for human consumption, that have undergone a heat treatment less than pasteurisation but which have either a) not been through an ageing or maturation process, or b) for which the ageing or maturation process commenced on or after 23 May 2025 

To also note that the safeguard declarations published to restrict imports of affected bovine commodities from Italy in response to its recent LSD outbreaks (see OVS note 2025/47) have now been updated to include a restriction on imports of bovine milk and milk products for human consumption that have undergone a heat treatment less than pasteurisation if they have either: 

  • not undergone an ageing or maturation process; or  
  • undergone an ageing or maturation process that commenced after 23 May 2025

To also clarify that bovine dairy products (such as hard cheeses) from Italy and France that have undergone heat treatment lower than pasteurisation and a ripening, ageing or maturation process that commenced before 23 May 2025 are exempt from the LSD-related import restrictions.  

Background 

Publication of safeguard measures restricting imports of certain ABPs and milk and dairy products for human consumption from France 

France notified WOAH of its first case of lumpy skin disease (LSD), which was confirmed on 29 June 2025 on a cattle farm in Chambéry: WAHIS. 

As a result of these outbreaks France has lost its LSD-free status.  

As stated in OVS Note 2025/48, restrictions on imports from France of live bovine animals, their germplasm, raw milk and milk products of bovine origin and bovine offal (except diaphragm and masseter muscles) were implemented on 1 July 2025 through amendments to the following lists:  

OVS Note 2025/48 indicated that TARP safeguard declarations would shortly be published restricting imports from France of the following bovine commodities: 

  • hides and skins, unless treated in line with point 2b, c, or d of Article 11.9.13 of the WOAH terrestrial code  
  • all other animal by-products of bovine origin (except gelatine and collagen, tallow, and hooves and horns), unless they have undergone heat treatment to a minimum internal temperature of 65°C for at least 30 minutes  
  • milk and milk products, for human consumption, that have undergone a heat treatment less than pasteurisation but which have either a) not been through an ageing or maturation process, or b) for which the ageing or maturation process commenced on or after 23 May 2025 

The above restrictions have now been implemented through publication of the following safeguard declarations under the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 and equivalent legislation in Scotland and Wales

  • Lumpy skin disease in France: declaration of special measures (England)   
  • Lumpy skin disease in France: declaration of special measures (Scotland)   
  • Lumpy skin disease in France: declaration of special measures (Wales)  

These safeguard measures were published on our Imports Topical Issues page on 10 July 2025. They will apply from 11 July 2025 and continue to apply until they are revoked or amended. 

Publication of amended safeguard measures restricting imports of certain ABPs and milk and dairy products for human consumption from Italy  

OVS Note 2025/47 notified that TARP safeguard declarations had been published to restrict imports from Italy of the following bovine commodities: 

  • hides and skins, unless treated in line with point 2b, c, or d of Article 11.9.13 of the WOAH terrestrial code. 
  • all other animal by-products of bovine origin (except gelatine and collagen, tallow, and hooves and horns), unless they have undergone heat treatment to a minimum internal temperature of 65°C for at least 30 minutes   

Please note that amended versions of these safeguard declarations have now been published to reflect restrictions on imports from Italy of bovine milk and milk products for human consumption that have undergone a heat treatment less than pasteurisation (i.e. thermisation) but which have either: 

  • not been through an ageing or maturation process; or  
  • for which the ageing or maturation process commenced on or after 23 May 2025 

These amended declarations were published on our Imports Topical Issues page on 10 July 2025, under the following titles: 

  • Lumpy skin disease in Italy: amendment declaration of special measures (England) 
  • Lumpy skin disease in Italy: declaration of special measures (Scotland)  
  • Lumpy skin disease in Italy: amendment declaration of special measures (Wales) 

The special measures in these safeguard declarations will apply from 11 July 2025 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended. 

Clarification on imports from Italy and France of bovine dairy products that have undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation   

OVS Notes 2025/47 and 2025/48 notified that imports of raw milk and raw dairy products (i.e. products covered under Column A in the Milk and Milk Products list) from Italy and France are suspended from 25 June 2025 and 1 July 2025, respectively. The TARP safeguard declarations published on 10 July 2025 (referenced in the section above) also restrict the import of bovine milk and milk products for human consumption that have undergone a heat treatment less than pasteurisation (i.e. thermisation) but which have either: 

  • not been through an ageing or maturation process; or  
  • for which the ageing or maturation process commenced on or after 23 May 2025

Please note that bovine dairy products from Italy and France that have undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation for human consumption (i.e. thermisation) can still be imported under General Authorisation IMP/GEN/2024/01 using certificate GBHC416, as long as they have undergone a process of ageing/maturation that commenced before 23 May 2025 and all other import conditions are met and all attestations can be signed. This means that imports of hard cheeses that have undergone thermisation and for which the ageing/maturation process commenced before 23 May 2025 can continue to take place via this import route. 

Acceptable supporting documentation  

For low-risk products or ingredients that do not need to be accompanied by an export health certificate the following documentation may be accepted:  

  • a dated manufacturer’s certificate or statement that relates to the specific goods in the consignment 
  • copies of manufacturing records showing accurate temperatures have been maintained throughout the production process

For bovine dairy products that have undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation and an ageing/maturation process that commenced before 23 May 2025, imported on certificate GBHC416, the consignment will need to be accompanied by supporting documentation (such as a manufacturing certificate or statement) detailing the heat treatment and dates through which the product underwent a process of ageing/maturation.  

Any bovine milk or dairy products from Italy and France that have been treated to pasteurisation (72°C for 15 seconds, as set out in Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EU) 605/2010) or one of the treatment options set out in Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EU) 605/2010 are unaffected by these restrictions and can continue to be imported through the usual routes: either as column B or column C products, the requirements for which are set out in certificates GBHC412 (column B) and GBHC413 (column C), respectively.  In accordance with the Border Target Operation Model, these products are categorised as low risk so do not need to be accompanied by an export health certificate – although they must still comply with the requirements in those certificates. It is advisable for consignments to be accompanied by the supporting documentation referred to above to confirm that the relevant heat treatments have been applied. 

Contact point for enquiries 

Email: imports@apha.gov.uk 

Imports and EU Trade Team