25 June 2025: Outbreak of lumpy skin disease in Italy
Updated 26 June 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-veterinary-surgeon-ovs-notes/25-june-2025-outbreak-of-lumpy-skin-disease-in-italy
OVS note number: 2025/44
Date: 25 June 2025
Purpose
To inform you that, due to a recent outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Italy, imports of the following bovine commodities have been suspended:
- live animals
- germplasm (semen, ova and embryos)
- raw milk and raw milk products (including colostrum)
- offal (except diaphragm and masseter muscles)
- hides and skins, unless they have been treated in line with point 2b, c, or d of Article 11.9.13 of the WOAH terrestrial code:
- dry-salted or wet-salted for a period of at least 14 days prior to dispatch; or
- treated for a period of at least seven days in salt (NaCl) with the addition of 2% sodium carbonate (Na2CO3); or
- dried for a period of at least 42 days at a temperature of at least 20°C
- all animal by-products (except gelatine and collagen, tallow, and hooves and horns – which WOAH consider safe commodities), unless they have undergone heat treatment to a minimum internal temperature of 65°C for at least 30 minutes
Background
Italy notified WOAH of its first case of lumpy skin disease (LSD), which was confirmed on 21 June 2025 on a cattle farm in Sardinia: WAHIS.
As a result of these outbreaks Italy has lost its LSD-free status.
In response to this outbreak, Defra is taking action to suspend imports of the following bovine commodities from the whole territory of Italy:
- live animals
- germplasm (semen, ova and embryos)
- raw milk and raw milk products (including colostrum)
- offal (except diaphragm and masseter muscles)
- hides and skins, unless they have been treated in line with point 2b, c, or d of Article 11.9.13 of the WOAH terrestrial code:
- dry-salted or wet-salted for a period of at least 14 days prior to dispatch; or
- treated for a period of at least seven days in salt (NaCl) with the addition of 2% sodium carbonate (Na2CO3); or
- dried for a period of at least 42 days at a temperature of at least 20°C
- all animal by-products of bovine origin (except gelatine and collagen, tallow, and hooves and horns – which WOAH consider safe), unless they have undergone heat treatment to a minimum internal temperature of 65°C for at least 30 minutes
The restrictions on imports 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 25 June 2025 through amendment to the following lists:
The restrictions on imports of fresh and chilled (untreated) bovine hides and skins and other affected ABPs of bovine origin will be implemented through publication of safeguard declarations under the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 in the coming days. A separate OVS note will be issued when these declarations have been published. In the meantime, any consignments of these products should be held.
Contact point for enquiries
Email: ukassurance@defra.gov.uk
Imports and EU Trade Team