26 February 2026: Recognition of peste des petits ruminants disease freedom for Hungary
Updated 27 February 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-veterinary-surgeon-ovs-notes/26-february-2026-recognition-of-peste-des-petits-ruminants-disease-freedom-for-hungary
OVS note number: 2026/10
Date: 26 February 2026
Purpose
To inform you that Defra has reviewed the actions taken by the Hungarian Competent Authority in response to their previous outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and that, as a result, import restrictions on the following commodities from Hungary have been lifted:
- live sheep and goats
- sheep and goat germplasm
- raw milk and raw milk products derived from sheep and goats
- fresh and chilled (untreated) hides and skins of sheep and goats
- untreated wool and hair from sheep and goats
Background
Hungary reported their first case of PPR to WOAH on 27 January 2025: WAHIS. This outbreak was confirmed on 24 January 2025 in a sheep establishment with 1,810 sheep, located in Szentgyörgyvölgy, near the Hungarian–Slovenian border.
In response to this outbreak, the UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance (UK SPS Office) amended its third country lists on 29 January 2025 and published safeguard declarations on 31 January 2025 to suspend imports of several commodities from PPR-susceptible animals from Hungary (see OVS note 2025/11 for a full list of actions taken).
On 24 October 2025, WOAH recognised Hungary as free of PPR.
Defra has now reviewed the measures implemented by the Hungarian Competent Authority in response to these outbreaks and concluded that PPR restrictions can be lifted.
The UK SPS Office amended its third country listings on 26 February 2026 to lift the suspension on imports of the following sheep and goat commodities from Hungary:
- live animals (through amendment to the live ungulates list)
- germplasm (through amendment to the ovine and caprine ova and embryos and ovine and caprine semen lists)
- raw milk and raw milk products (through amendment to the milk and milk products list).
In addition, restrictions on imports from Hungary of fresh and chilled (untreated) hides and skins and untreated wool and hair from sheep and goats have been lifted by revoking the safeguard declarations through which these restrictions were implemented. This has been achieved through publication on the topical issues page of the following revocations, which apply from 27 February 2026:
- Peste des petits ruminants in Hungary: revocation of declaration of special measures (England)
- Peste des petits ruminants in Hungary: revocation of declaration of special measures (Scotland)
- Peste des petits ruminants in Hungary: revocation of declaration of special measures (Wales)
Foot and mouth disease (FMD)
Imports of animals susceptible to FMD and certain products derived from them were suspended from Hungary between March and September 2025, in response to FMD outbreaks. While Hungary has been recognised as FMD-free and restrictions lifted (see OVS note 2025/62), imports of several commodities are still subject to FMD-specific requirements on certification. Therefore, please be aware that imports of sheep and goat commodities may still be subject to the FMD-freedom requirements laid out in OVS note 2025/62.
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).
While Hungary has been recognised as free of PPR, restrictions on personal imports from the EU single market area (including Hungary) of sheep and goat products (as well as porcine and other ruminant products) remain unchanged. 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