South Korea bans pork from Germany after outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
The outbreak represents the first known cases of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany since 1988
The South Korean Ministry of Agriculture announced in a statement on Saturday evening that the ban was effective immediately.
Tests will be conducted on all German pork products delivered to South Korea since December 27, the ministry said. Some 360 tonnes of German pork are currently undergoing quarantine testing.
The outbreak, confirmed on Friday in the town of Hönow near Berlin, led to the culling of nearby pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals as a precaution.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease in cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Many zoo and wild animals can also be infected by the disease.
Although it poses no danger for humans, the disease can have a devastating impact on livestock and poses a major economic threat to farmers.
