The Department of Agriculture has lifted the temporary ban on importing animals and animal products from Hungary, following the apparent containment of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the country.
The World Organisation of Animal Health's Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases reinstated Hungary's FMD-free status after reviewing a containment plan submitted by the country's Ministry of Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture said that the commission concluded that the containment zone meets the requirements outlined in the Terrestrial Code for reinstatement of the FMD-free status where vaccination is not practiced.
The Department of Agriculture suspended animal imports from Hungary in a memorandum order issued in March 2025 after cases of FMD in the village of Kisbajcs, Győr District, involving domestic buffaloes.
The department's decision to lift the ban marks a significant development in the country's efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.
The Department of Agriculture emphasized that the reinstatement of Hungary's FMD-free status is a major step towards ensuring the country's animal health and safety standards meet international requirements.
