The Irish Cattle & Sheepowners' Association has called for the relocation of the Pirbright laboratory in Surrey to a safer, more protected location.
The call comes after a report by the UK authorities confirmed that the recent FMD outbreak was caused by a leak, and at least five lapses, in bio-security measures.
The problem was exacerbated by the fact that Pirbright is located on a flood plain.
President of ICSA, Malcolm Thompson, said that in the US all of these kinds of facilities, which handle dangerous and sensitive materials such as viruses, are located offshore as a further barrier to accidental leaks.
Mr Thompson said that an outbreak of FMD anywhere has huge knock-on effects for all farmers and chances cannot be taken.
The investigation into the recent outbreak in England found that old drainage pipes at a government facility were most likely responsible for the spread of the disease to two farms in Surrey.
Two separate reports pointed to complacency over safety procedures and a possible conflict of interest between the Pirbright animal research laboratory and the UK Department of Agriculture.
The reports have been published by the British Health and Safety Executive and a leading academic commissioned by the government.
However, British Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the reports do not single out any one factor as being the cause of the outbreak.
The Irish Farmers' Association President, Padraig Walshe, said it is incredible to think that a simple fault in the drainage system in Pirbright could put the entire UK and EU livestock sector at risk.
