Danger from foot and mouth disease: Warning for Easter in Austria!

Danger from foot and mouth disease: Warning for Easter in Austria!

Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) warns of an increased risk of foot and mouth disease (FMD) spreading at Easter. The minister sees the risk as increased, particularly due to return trips from affected countries and increased travel activity during the Easter holidays. Markets in particular where products of unknown origin are offered pose an additional risk. Totschnig appeals to the population to adhere to hygiene regulations and not to bring fresh meat, raw milk or animal feed from affected regions. As of Wednesday evening, there were no cases of foot-and-mouth disease in Austria.

However, there have been worrying developments in the region in recent weeks. Hungary and Slovakia reported further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease on March 25 and 26, 2025. A newly confirmed case in Hungary is also close to the border with Austria. The situation led to the Federal Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMASGPK) adopting new protective measures that came into force on April 5, 2025.

New regulation and emergency measures

The new regulation to combat foot-and-mouth disease includes expanded requirements for import restrictions, biosecurity measures and company responsibility. Companies are obliged to implement biosecurity measures on their own responsibility and at their own expense. They must also carry out a risk assessment of the biosecurity situation on their farm and keep a visit log for people from outside the company who enter the stables. Existing measures such as the ban on imports of live animals and fresh meat from Hungary and Slovakia remain in force.

A central part of the measures are the surveillance zones that have been set up and the closure of 32 smaller border crossings to prevent the entry of the disease. These measures were necessary to prevent the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease and to ensure early detection of the virus. Additional biosecurity measures are mandatory within the surveillance zones, and the epidemiological situation is continuously assessed by AGES.

The importance of personal responsibility

The BMASGPK emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility for all farmers and animal owners in order to ensure animal health and agricultural production in Austria. All samples examined so far in Austria have been negative, but the current outbreaks in neighboring countries make compliance with the new regulations particularly essential.

In addition to the measures to combat foot-and-mouth disease, Minister Totschnig announced that a plan to implement the EU renaturation law must be presented by mid-2026. Totschnig is optimistic about the presentation of an Austrian climate law in the coming months and emphasizes the need to involve the affected parties.

The challenges facing Austrian agriculture are complex. In addition to foot-and-mouth disease control, important legal regulations on pig farming are also being planned to ensure pig production in Austria until the end of May 2025.

Current events highlight the need for comprehensive measures and the importance of collaboration between government and agriculture to ensure animal health in Austria.