U.S. halts import of EU animals, animal products

By CNN Producer Christy Feig

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said it was temporarily banning all animals and animal products from the European Union because of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, a spokesman said.

The USDA took the measure after France reported its first confirmed case of the disease, the spokesman said.

Last week, the EU extended a ban on the export of British meat, dairy products and live animals until March 27. The disease has been mostly confined to Britain.

ALSO U.S. issues foot-and-mouth precautions for travelers

Foot-and-mouth disease, which does not harm humans, causes blisters on the hooves and mouths of sheep, pigs, cattle and goats, undermining their economic value.

The USDA stepped up measures against the disease last week by implementing new restrictions on imported food items arriving with passengers from abroad, and on the passengers themselves.

Travelers who have been on farms abroad are asked to "clean and disinfect" their clothes before returning to the United States, officials said Monday. A USDA spokesman said officials will examine the baggage of anyone who has been on a farm abroad.

Travelers returning from Europe are being told to stay away from livestock in the United States for four to five days upon return.

The USDA is also disinfecting any footwear that has been on a European farm at point-of-entry airports in the United States. This includes any non-stop flights from England and Ireland directly to the United States.

The USDA is also seizing any European meat or dairy products at U.S. airports.

France, Belgium suspect foot-and-mouth
March 3, 2001
Europe braced for foot-and-mouth
March 3, 2001
UK outbreak raises questions
March 2, 2001
Europe steps up disease controls
March 2, 2001
Disease-free livestock to move again
March 2, 2001
Foot-and-mouth crisis spreads
February 28, 2001

United States Department of Agriculture
UK Ministry of Agriculture: Foot-and-mouth
Belgian Ministry of Agriculture
French Ministry of Agriculture
Danish Ministry of Agriculture (in Danish)
The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease
European Union: Agriculture policies

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