About this web page
The information on this page is also available in an importer update document dated 28 March 2025.
Importer update: Foot and mouth disease detected in Hungary and Slovakia [PDF, 114 KB]
Situation status and timeline of FMD in Hungary and Slovakia
On 3 March 2025, the European Union (EU) notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) of a confirmed case of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Hungary. The disease was identified on a dairy farm (1,418 animals) in Gyor-Moson-Sopron Hungary close to the border with Slovakia. On 26 March 2025, a second outbreak was confirmed on a dairy farm (3,028 animals) in the same region as the first detection, near the Hungarian-Austrian border.
Since 21 March 2025, FMD has been confirmed on four farms (3,050 animals) in Slovakia. One of the farms is within 10 km of the affected farm in Hungary.
The strain of FMD virus is different from the January 2025 outbreak in Germany.
The FMD free status of Hungary and Slovakia has been suspended by WOAH.
The European Union’s protocols for managing FMD are very strict, and FMD restricted zones in Hungary and Slovakia are in force. The European Union (EU) has recognised Hungary’s FMD restricted zone, which has been in effect from 11 March 2025.
How does this impact your imported animal products?
New Zealand is actively monitoring the FMD situation in Hungary and Slovakia.
Like many countries, New Zealand uses two FMD incubation cycles as the tracing period in the event of an FMD outbreak. This is being applied to products imported from Hungary and Slovakia.
All consignments of animal product from Hungary and Slovakia will be assessed as follows:
- A list of animal products eligible for entry into New Zealand using normal clearance processes is in this document: List of animal products from FMD-susceptible animals [PDF, 126 KB]
- All other animal products will be assessed according to their production date. Animal products with a production, slaughter or manufacturing date:
- Before 3 February 2025 are eligible for entry into New Zealand following normal clearance procedures.
- From 3 February 2025 will be assessed according to risk on a case-by-case basis. Only animal products that meet New Zealand’s import requirements will be eligible for clearance.
Importers are encouraged to consider the commercial risks before importing any animal products from Hungary and Slovakia as the FMD situation is dynamic and evolving.
How does this impact re-export of imported animal products?
Importers should be aware that the export requirements for animal product imported from Hungary and Slovakia for further manufacturing in New Zealand may have changed. For enquiries about imported product intended for onward export, email
Importers should be aware that the export requirements for animal product imported from Hungary and Slovakia for further manufacturing in New Zealand may have changed. For enquiries about imported product intended for onward export, please contact tradeandinternationalrelations@mpi.govt.nz
