Guidance

23 February 2026: Recognition of foot-and-mouth disease freedom for Slovakia

Updated 27 February 2026

OVS note number: 2026/08

Date: 23 February 2026

Purpose

To inform you that Defra has reviewed the actions taken by the Slovakian Competent Authority in response to their previous outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).  As a result, import restrictions from Slovakia have been lifted for the following affected commodities, provided all other import conditions, including all the attestations in the health certificates, can be met:

• live (including non-domestic) ruminant and porcine animals, including wild game, and their germplasm
• fresh meat from ruminant and porcine animals (including chilled and frozen)
• meat products from ruminant and porcine animals that have not been subject to heat treatment D1, D, C or B
• casings
• raw and pasteurised milk and raw and pasteurised milk products (including colostrum)
• certain animal by-products (ABPs) (low risk commodities do not require health certification but must still meet all requirements within the relevant health certificate)
• hay and straw

Background

Hungary notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) of an outbreak of FMD on 7 March 2025: WAHIS. The outbreak was detected in a cattle herd on a farm in Kisbajcs, 1 kilometre from the border with Slovakia.

In response to this outbreak, the UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance (UK SPS Office) amended its third country lists and published safeguard declarations on 7 March 2025 to suspend imports of several commodities from FMD-susceptible animals from both Hungary and Slovakia (see OVS note 2025/19 for a full list of actions taken). The UK SPS Office further amended the fresh meat of ungulates list on 14 March 2025 to insert closing dates in Hungary and Slovakia’s entries (please see OVS note 2025/21).

Slovakia subsequently reported six outbreaks of FMD in its own territory between 21 March 2025 and 4 April 2025: WAHIS.

On 31 October 2025, WOAH recognised Slovakia as free of FMD without vaccination.

Defra has now reviewed the measures implemented by the Slovakian Competent Authority in response to these outbreaks and concluded that FMD restrictions can be lifted from the whole country of Slovakia, with FMD freedom recognised from 9 December 2025.

The UK SPS Office amended its third country listings on 23 February 2026 to lift the suspension on imports of the following commodities from FMD-susceptible animals from Slovakia:  

• live ruminants and swine: model certificates BOV-X, BOV-Y, OVI-X, OVI-Y, RUM, POR-X, POR-Y and SUI have been added to Slovakia’s entries in the live ungulates third country list, with a footnote added to Slovakia’s entries to stipulate that ‘for certification purposes, this territory is considered to have been free of FMD from 09/12/2025’.
• ruminant germplasm: a footnote has been added to Slovakia’s entries in the bovine semen, bovine embryos, ovine and caprine ova and embryos and ovine and caprine semen third country listings, which stipulates that ‘for certification purposes, this territory is considered to have been free of FMD from 09/12/2025’.
• porcine germplasm: a footnote has been added to Slovakia’s entry in the porcine semen list, which stipulates that ‘for certification purposes, this territory is considered to have been free of FMD from 09/12/2025’. Imports of porcine semen from Slovakia remain suspended due to outbreaks of African Swine Fever.
• fresh meat of certain domestic and non-domestic ruminants and swine: the RUW and SUW model certificates have been re-added to Slovakia’s entries in the fresh meat of ungulates third country listing, with an opening date of 09/12/2025 attached to the BOV, OVI, RUF, RUW, SUF, and SUW certificates. A footnote has also been added to Slovakia’s entries, which stipulates that ‘for certification purposes, this territory is considered to have been free of FMD from 09/12/2025.’
• meat products: the following changes have been made to Slovakia’s entries:
  • heat treatment ‘D1’ has been replaced by ‘A’ in columns 3, 4 and 10 (covering meat products of domestic bovine and farmed cloven-hoofed game (excluding swine), domestic ovine/caprine, and wild cloven-hoofed game (excluding swine), respectively)
  • treatment ‘D1’ has been replaced by ‘A’ in column 5 (domestic porcine and farmed cloven-hoofed game (swine)) for the territories SK-1 and SK-2
  • treatment ‘D1’ has been replaced by ‘D’ in column 5 (domestic porcine and farmed cloven-hoofed game (swine)) for the territory SK-3
  • treatment ‘D1’ has been replaced by ‘A’ in column 11 (wild swine) for the territory SK-1
  • A footnote has been added to Slovakia’s entries, which stipulates that ‘for certification purposes, this territory is considered to have been free of FMD from 09/12/2025’
• raw and pasteurised milk and raw and pasteurised milk products (including colostrum): ‘0’ has been replaced by ‘+’ in columns A and B of Slovakia’s entry in the milk and milk products listing. In addition, a footnote has been added to Slovakia’s entry, which stipulates that ‘for certification purposes, this territory is considered to have been free of FMD from 09/12/2025’.

‘FMD-susceptible animals’ means a cow, bull, sheep, goat, deer, camel, llama, alpaca, guanaco, vicuna, any other ruminant, any swine (that is, a member of the suborder Suina of the order Artiodactyla) or elephant. 

African Swine Fever

It should be noted that parts of Slovakia are currently under restriction due to African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks.

This means that imports of live porcine animals and fresh porcine and wild swine meat and meat products (unless treated to mitigate ASF) from ASF-affected parts of Slovakia continue to be prohibited. In addition, imports of porcine semen from the entire territory of Slovakia remain suspended.

Safeguard measures

In addition to updates to third country listings, the following safeguard declarations were published on our topical issues page on 23 February 2026 to lift FMD-related restrictions on imports from Slovakia of hay and straw, certain ABPs and animal casings derived from FMD-susceptible animals: 

• Revocation of declaration of special measures: importation of certain products from Slovakia (England)
• Revocation of declaration of special measures: importation of certain products from Slovakia (Scotland)

• Revocation of declaration of special measures: importation of certain products from Slovakia (Wales)

• Amendment to declaration of special measures: importation of untreated wool and hair from Cyprus and Slovakia (England)
• Amendment to declaration of special measures: importation of untreated wool and hair from Cyprus and Slovakia (Wales)

• Foot and mouth disease - importation of untreated wool and hair of susceptible animals for certain third countries and territories: declaration of special measures (Scotland)

• Amendment to declaration of special measures: importation of animal casings from susceptible animals from Cyprus and Slovakia (England)
• Amendment to declaration of special measures: importation of animal casings from susceptible animals from Cyprus and Slovakia (Wales)
• Foot and mouth disease - importation of animal casings from foot and mouth disease susceptible animals from certain third countries and territories: declaration of special measures (Scotland)

The new safeguard measures, published separately for England, Scotland and Wales, apply on a GB-wide basis from 24 February 2026 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended. For the purposes of certification, Slovakia has been considered free of FMD since 9 December 2025. 

Personal import restrictions

Personal imports from the EU single market area of certain porcine and ruminant products into Great Britain were initially suspended in April 2025, via published safeguard declarations, in response to foot and mouth disease (see OVS note 2025/29). The measures are given effect through the following instruments: 

• for personal imports into England, through the Declaration of special measures: Personal imports of products from susceptible animals from EEA states, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland (England) (which replaces earlier published safeguard declarations)
• for personal imports Wales, through The Animal Health (Import Controls) (Wales) Order 2025 (which replaces previously published safeguard measures – see OVS note 2025/56)
• for personal imports Scotland, through The Animal Products (Control of Personal Importation) (Scotland) Order 2025 (which replaces previously published safeguard measures – see OVS note 2025/59).

In spite of Slovakia being recognised as free of FMD, restrictions on personal imports from the EU single market area (including Slovakia) of certain porcine and ruminant products remain unchanged. This means that no products of FMD-susceptible animals can be imported from the EU single market area (EEA states, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland) into Great Britain as personal imports, whether unpackaged or commercially produced and packaged. Please see OVS note 2025/29 for a full breakdown of these restrictions. 

Contact point for enquiries

Email: imports@apha.gov.uk

Imports and EU Trade Team

Guidance for traders following removal of restrictions on certain commodities originating from Slovakia

Commodities in scope: 

• live (including non-domestic) ruminant and porcine animals, including wild game, and their germplasm
• fresh meat from ruminant and porcine animals (including chilled and frozen)
• meat products from ruminant and porcine animals that have not been subject to specific treatment D1, D, C or B (including wild game)
• rendered fat and greaves
• casings
• milk, colostrum and their products, not treated to a treatment as defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 605/2010
• certain animal by-products
• hay and straw

Following an assessment, restrictions previously applied to imports of these commodities originating from Slovakia have now been lifted. This means that the export of these previously affected commodities can resume, provided that all other import conditions are met and all attestations in the relevant export health certificate can be certified.  

Where certificates require confirmation that no FMD vaccination has occurred in the territory of origin for a defined period, this can still be certified in Slovakia’s case. The Slovakian authorities have confirmed that emergency vaccination was followed by a vaccinate-to-kill policy, with all vaccinated animals culled and safely disposed of. 

The list of EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain and the relevant safeguard declarations published at Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues - GOV.UK have been updated accordingly.   

See below for specific guidance for certification of affected commodities from Slovakia following the lifting of restrictions.

Live animals

For live animals from Slovakia, please refer to the following information on the attestations related to the territory and the establishment of origin: 

GBHC620 (BOV-X), GBHC621 (BOV-Y), GBHC630 (OVI-X), GBHC631 (OVI-Y), GBHC680 (POR-X) and GBHC681 (POR-Y) - In the territory requirements (freedom from disease) regarding the following attestations: bovine certificates – AH/T117; ovine and caprine certificates – AH/T121; porcine certificates - AH/T129] 

has been considered free from [foot-and-mouth disease], since ……(dd/mm/yyyy), without having had cases/outbreaks from that date, and authorised to export these animals by …… of …… (dd/mm/yyyy), and;] 

please insert: 

• the date as indicated in the document related to live ungulates published on GOV.UK, in accordance with Regulation 206/2010 in the first and third dotted line.
• the words “Secretary of State” as authorising authority in the second dotted line.

Please note that this guidance is only intended for FMD and the porcine certificates may have restrictions related to the other diseases referred to in a similar attestation. 

GBHC710 (RUM) and GBHC711 (SUI) - imports into Great Britain of live animals dispatched from a territory affected by FMD outbreak can resume 24 months after the date that the restrictions have been lifted. 

GBHC716 (RUM-A) - AH/T124 - there are two options:

• (a)(i) to be used when the country or territory or part thereof has been free for the past 12 months, or
• (a)(ii) the animals have been subject to the relevant tests for FMD as described in the certificate with negative results

GBHC717 (SUI-A) - AH/T128 - there are two options: 

• (a)(i)(1) to be used when the country or territory or part thereof has been free for the past 12 months, or
• (a)(i)(2) the animals have been subject to the relevant tests for FMD as described in the certificate with negative results

In addition, and applying to all live animal certificates listed in this part, exports to Great Britain from establishments located within 10km of the outbreak can resume after a minimum of 40 days after the latest FMD case. 

Germinal products

Imports into Great Britain of bovine semen, oocytes and embryos, ovine/caprine semen oocytes and embryos and porcine semen from Slovakia can resume after the restrictions have been lifted and providing the germinal product is compliant with the animal health attestations in the relevant GB health certificate.  

Please note that import restrictions in place for other diseases remain, including for African swine fever. 

Semen

GBHC800 - bovine semen (AH/132), GBHC820 - ovine/caprine semen (AH/134A) and GBHC 830 - porcine semen (AH/170) can only be imported from a country or part thereof that has been free from FMD for a period of 12 months immediately prior to the date of collection and until dispatch.

Bovine semen exported from an approved storage centre using GBHC802 must comply with the semen collection centre requirements set out in GBHC800. Ovine/caprine semen exported from an approved storage centre using GBHC821 must comply with the semen collection centre requirements set out in GBHC820. 

Embryos or oocytes collected in Slovakia whilst the area was restricted due to FMD can be imported into Great Britain provided all other animal health requirements are complied with. 

In vivo collected bovine embryos and in vitro produced bovine, ovine or caprine embryos collected in Slovakia can be imported provided they can comply with the requirements in the following attestations:  in vivo bovine embryos - AH/T133 A (c), in vitro bovine embryos – AH/133 B (a) (iii) and ovine/caprine embryos AH/T134 B (c) and the donor animals comply with the animal health requirements below.

In addition, the establishment of collection (including abattoirs), must be in a 10km zone where no outbreak of FMD has occurred in the 30 days prior to collection and until dispatch (or 30 days for embryos subject to mandatory storage).  This is in accordance with the following attestations:  GBHC803: AH/E371A and AH/E372A; GBHC804 and GBHC805: AH/E371B and AH/E372B; GBHC822: AA/E100 and AA/E101. 

Products of animal origin (POAO) (for human consumption)

Meat

Following the lifting of restrictions, exports of fresh meat from Slovakia can resume provided all the relevant conditions are met. 

Meat produced before the opening date (9 December 2026) is not eligible to be imported into Great Britain. 

Ruminant meat

The relevant GB health certificates are as follows: 

• fresh meat, including minced meat, of domestic bovine animals (including Bison and Bubalus species and their cross-breeds) (BOV) (GBHC300)
• fresh meat, including minced meat, of domestic ovine animals (Ovis aries) and domestic caprine animals (Capra hircus) (OVI) (GBHC320)
• fresh meat, excluding offal and minced meat, of farmed nondomestic animals of the order Artiodactyla (excluding bovine animals (including Bison and Bubalus species and their cross-breeds), Ovis aries, Capra hircus, Suidae and Tayassuidae), and of the families Rhinocerotidae and Elephantidae (RUF) (excluding offal and minced meat) (GBHC373)
• fresh meat, excluding offal and minced meat, of wild nondomestic animals of the order Artiodactyla (excluding bovine animals (including Bison and Bubalus species and their cross-breeds), Ovis aries, Capra hircus, Suidae and Tayassuidae), and of the families Rhinocerotidae and Elephantidae (RUW) (excluding offal and minced meat) (GBHC374)

Regarding the following attestations AH/T104D Territory requirements (BOV), AH/T104B (OVI), AH/T104A (RUF) and AH/T104C (RUW) 

When completing the relevant attestation in the below certificates for meat originating in Slovakia, the certifying official veterinarian must use the second option (b). 

[(b) has been considered free from foot-and-mouth disease since …… (dd/mm/yyyy), without having had cases/outbreaks afterwards, and authorised to export this meat by ……, of …… (dd/mm/yyyy) 

Please insert: 

• the opening date as indicated in the document relating to ‘fresh meat of ungulates’’ in accordance with Regulation 206/2010 in both places
• the words “Secretary of State” as authorising authority

Please note that this guidance is only intended for FMD and you will need to check the import requirements in relation to the other diseases referred to in the attestations. 

Porcine meat

The relevant certificates are as follows: 

• fresh meat, including minced meat of domestic porcine animals (Sus scrofa) (POR) (GBHC310)
• mechanically separated meat of domestic porcine animals (Sus scrofa) (POR-MSM) (GBHC311)

Regarding the following attestations:  AH/T103 (POR), (POR-MSM) 

When completing the relevant attestation in the following certificates, the certifying official veterinarian must use the second option (b)(ii) 

(b) (ii) has been considered free from ()[foot-and-mouth disease], ()[classical swine fever] and (*)[swine vesicular disease], since …… (dd/mm/yyyy), without having had cases/outbreaks afterwards, and authorised to export this meat by ……of ……(dd/mm/yyyy); and] 

Please insert:

• the opening date as indicated in the document relating to ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ published on GOV.UK, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 in both places
• the words “Secretary of State” as authorising authority

Please note that this guidance is only intended for FMD and you will need to check the import requirements in relation to the other diseases referred to in the attestations. 

Other Suidae

The relevant certificates are as follows: 

• fresh meat, excluding offal and minced meat, of farmed non-domestic animals belonging to the Suidae, Tayassuidae or Tapiridae families (SUF) (GBHC377)
• fresh meat, excluding offal and minced meat, of wild nondomestic animals belonging to the Suidae, Tayassuidae, or Tapiridae families (SUW) (GBHC378)

Regarding the following attestations:  AH/T103 (SUF) and (SUW) ] 

When completing the relevant attestation in the below certificates, the certifying vet must use the second option (a) (ii): 

[(a)      (ii) has been considered free from ()[foot-and-mouth disease], ()[classical swine fever] and (*)[swine vesicular disease], since …… (dd/mm/yyyy), without having had cases/outbreaks afterwards, and authorised to export this meat by …… of …… (dd/mm/yyyy);  

Please insert: 

• the opening date as indicated in the document relating to ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ published on GOV.UK, in accordance with Regulation 206/2010 in both places
• the words “Secretary of State” as authorising authority

Please note that this guidance is only intended for FMD and you will need to check the import requirements in relation to the other diseases referred to in the attestations. 

Meat preparations

Following the lifting of restrictions, export of meat preparations from Slovakia can resume provided all the relevant conditions are met. 

The relevant certificate is as follows: 

• meat preparations (MP-PREP) GBHC350

Meat preparations from Slovakia are permitted provided that the fresh meat originates from a territory eligible to import into Great Britain. In relation to FMD as stated above, fresh meat from Slovakia is permitted. 

Please note that this guidance is only intended for FMD and you will need to check the import requirements in relation to the other diseases referred to in the attestations. 

Meat products

The relevant certificate is as follows: 

• certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines (MP-PROD) (GBHC352)

Meat products from Slovakia that have not undergone the required specific treatment are permitted provided that the fresh meat originates from a territory eligible to import into Great Britain. In relation to FMD as stated above fresh meat from Slovakia is permitted.

Please note that this guidance is only intended for FMD and you will need to check the import requirements in relation to the other diseases referred to in the attestations.

Rendered animal fats and greaves

The relevant certificate is as follows: 

• rendered animal fats and greaves intended for human consumption (RFG) (GBHC451)

Rendered animal fats and greaves from Slovakia are permitted provided that the product originates from a territory eligible to import into Great Britain. In relation to FMD as stated above fresh meat from Slovakia is permitted. 

Please note that this guidance is only intended for FMD and you will need to check the import requirements in relation to the other diseases referred to in the attestations. 

Dairy

Dairy products from Slovakia must meet the FMD risk mitigating treatment for 12 months after the restrictions are lifted.  After 12 months has elapsed, dairy other than that under column C can comply with the 12-month territory freedom requirement in attestations: GBHC410, GBHC411, GBHC412 and GBHC416 – AH/T101 (b) and GBHC414 – AH/T102 (b). GBHC415 cross refers to GBHC410-414 and therefore can be permitted. These products must meet the requirements of the following health certificate: 

• dairy products for human consumption from third countries or parts thereof authorised in column C of Annex I (Regulation 605/2010) (Milk-HTC) (GBHC413)

If the product falls in the low-risk category under BTOM it does not need to be accompanied with an export health certificate, but it is advisable to have supporting documentation to confirm what treatment has been applied.

Animal casings

Following the lifting of restrictions, exports of animal casings from Slovakia can resume provided all the relevant conditions are met.

The relevant certificate is as follows: 

• animal casings (CAS) (GBHC370)

Regarding the following attestation AH/P716 Product requirements – In relation to foot and mouth disease, certifying official veterinarians can use the first option which confirms that the animal casings come from territory/zone with code ….. which is eligible for imports of fresh meat of the species. If the territory/zone is affected by other diseases e.g. African Swine Fever which affect imports of fresh meat, the product will have to be subjected to one of the risk-mitigating treatments and the relevant attestation will need to be certified accordingly. 

Animal by-products (not for human consumption)

The export of previously suspended or restricted animal by-products can resume provided that all other import conditions are met and all attestations in the relevant export health certificate can be certified (low-risk commodities do not require health certification but must still meet all requirements within the relevant health certificate). 

Some commodities from Slovakia cannot resume because specific attestations about freedom from FMD cannot currently be certified. These include: 

• colostrum and colostrum products from bovine (GBHC587)
• fresh or chilled hides and skins of ungulates (GBHC540)
• milk, milk-based products and milk-derived products (GBHC583)
• untreated blood products, excluding those of Equidae, for the manufacture of derived products for purposes outside the feed chain for farmed animals (GBHC502)
• untreated game trophies or other preparations (GBHC543) – of cloven hoofed animals (including wild swine) only

Hay and straw

Imports of hay and straw from Slovakia will be permitted from the opening date when the restrictions are lifted.