The United States has banned all imports of used farm equipment from the European Union and countries where animals are suspected of having foot and mouth disease. The US temporarily banned imports of livestock and fresh meat, mainly pork ribs, from the entire European Union on 13 March. Originally, the temporary prohibition was to expire on Wednesday, but the discovery of more cases in the EU have prompted the US Department of Agriculture officials to leave the ban open-ended.
Earlier this month, Alabama officials quarantined a shipment of some 100 used tractors that had been displayed at a farm trade show in Britain. Alabama state officials began disinfecting the John Deere tractors earlier this week at a US port in Mobile. In another development, initial tests on piglets in Germany, suspected of having foot and mouth disease, have proved negative. Results of more extensive tests would be available early next week. The area is near the Dutch border.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands has reported another case of foot and mouth disease, bringing the total there to 11. The new case was found in cattle at a farm in the eastern village of Oene, where two previous cases were discovered. Meanwhile, the EU ban on the sale of meat and dairy products from two French regions, which have experienced outbreaks, will be lifted on Monday if there are no new cases.
