Guidance

13 March 2026: Insertion of a closing date in Cyprus’ entry in the 'fresh meat of ungulates' list following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease

Updated 19 March 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-veterinary-surgeon-ovs-notes/13-march-2026-insertion-of-a-closing-date-in-cyprus-entry-in-the-fresh-meat-of-ungulates-list-following-an-outbreak-of-foot-and-mouth-disease

Purpose

To inform you of the insertion of a closing date in Cyprus’ entry in the fresh meat of ungulates listing, following a recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD).

Background

The Republic of Cyprus confirmed an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) on 20 February 2026: WAHIS. The outbreak was first detected in a cattle farm in Larnaca, with two further cases also confirmed in nearby sheep farms.

The UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance amended its country listings on 23 February 2026 to suspend imports of several commodities from FMD-susceptible animals from the whole territory of Cyprus (see OVS note 2026/07 for a full list of actions taken). As part of this, imports of fresh meat of ungulates susceptible to FMD were suspended, through removal of the model certificates BOV, OVI, RUF, RUW, POR, SUF and SUW from Cyprus’ entry in the fresh meat of ungulates list.

Following assessment, the UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance has today (13 March 2026) amended the fresh meat of ungulates list. The amendment reinstates the BOV, OVI, RUF, POR and SUF certificates to Cyprus’ entry, but with a closing date of 13 November 2025 inserted in column 7.

As a result of the insertion of this closing date, any consignments of fresh meat, meat products and meat preparations from FMD-susceptible animals from Cyprus currently being held at border control posts (BCPs) may be released if they meet all the following conditions:

  1. the consignments contain or were made from fresh meat obtained from animals slaughtered before 13 November 2025. (Any consignments containing fresh meat with a slaughter date on or after 13 November 2025 should be rejected.)
  2. the accompanying certificate was signed before 12 December 2025. (Any consignments certified on or after 12 December 2025 should be rejected.)
  3. all other requirements for the import of such products into GB are met.

Consignments currently being held at BCPs which do not meet all the above conditions should be rejected and dealt with in line with OCR rules for rejected consignments.

All future imports from Cyprus of consignments containing fresh meat of FMD-susceptible animals remain prohibited and cannot be certified, regardless of the slaughter date.

The certificates covering fresh meat of wild game animals (RUW and SUW) have not been reinstated. This means imports from Cyprus of those commodities covered by these certificates continue to be restricted entirely – regardless of the date of slaughter. Any consignments of such commodities being held at BCPs should be rejected.

Contact point for enquiries

imports@apha.gov.uk

Imports and EU Trade Team

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