VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has introduced sweeping emergency measures to shield its agricultural sector from a fast-spreading strain of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) detected in Cyprus and Greece.
The Food Safety and Security Authority said the restrictions took effect on 21 April, following a warning issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health on 15 April 2026 urging heightened vigilance across Europe.
At the centre of the response is the SAT1 serotype, considered the most serious animal health threat to reach Europe in decades. Previously confined to sub-Saharan Africa, the strain has expanded rapidly since 2025, with European livestock lacking natural immunity.
Under the new rules, all ruminants and swine entering Malta from EU countries must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at the owner’s expense, while imports from non-EU countries are banned entirely.
Strict movement controls have also been imposed domestically, with the transport of such animals prohibited unless authorised by the Chief Veterinary Officer. Farms are required to implement enhanced biosecurity protocols, and petting farms hosting susceptible animals must close to the public.
Additional restrictions target potential transmission routes. Vehicles that have passed through designated risk zones are barred from entering Malta with animals, while animal products from those areas are prohibited. Travellers arriving from affected zones are banned for 14 days from visiting farms or similar facilities.
Authorities have also tightened waste disposal rules, requiring food waste from ships and aircraft to be incinerated or kept out of Malta altogether.
The measures follow 33 confirmed outbreaks in Cyprus since February and Greece’s first case in 25 years, reported on Lesvos in March.
FMD causes fever, painful lesions and sharp drops in productivity, often proving fatal in young animals. EU policy mandates immediate culling of infected herds, with outbreaks typically triggering major trade bans.
Officials warned that an uncontrolled outbreak could inflict severe economic losses, particularly during peak livestock movement periods, and urged full public compliance.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
