Guidance

26 June 2025: Outbreak of lumpy skin disease in Italy

Updated 26 June 2025

OVS note number:  2025/47 

Date: 26 June 2025 

Purpose 

To inform you that, due to a recent outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Italy, safeguard declarations have now been published to restrict imports of fresh and chilled (untreated) bovine hides and skins and other affected ABPs of bovine origin. 

To also clarify that bovine dairy products (such as hard cheeses) that have undergone heat treatment lower than pasteurisation with a ripening and an ageing/maturation process that commenced before 23 May 2025 are exempt from import restrictions.  

Background 

Publication of safeguard measures restricting certain ABPs of bovine origin 

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.  

As stated in OVS note 2025/44, 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 amendments to the following lists:  

• live ungulates  
• bovine embryos  
• bovine semen  
• fresh meat of ungulates  
• milk and milk products  

OVS note 2025/44 indicated that TARP safeguard declarations would shortly be published restricting imports of the following 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 – which WOAH consider safe), unless they have undergone heat treatment to a minimum internal temperature of 65°C for at least 30 minutes  

The above restrictions on imports of fresh and chilled (untreated) bovine hides and skins and other affected ABPs of bovine origin have now been implemented through the publication on our Imports Topical Issue page of the following safeguard declarations under the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011: 

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

These safeguard measures were published on 26 June 2025. They will apply from 27 June 2025 and continue to apply until they are revoked or amended. 

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 manufacturers 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

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

OVS note 2025/44 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 are suspended from 25 June 2025. 

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

Contact point for enquiries 

Email: imports@apha.gov.uk 

Imports and EU Trade Team