The detection of foot-and-mouth disease in livestock on Lesvos has created problems for some importers in Australia, with the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry issuing a notice regarding a range of products from February 15 onwards.
It should be noted that the livestock products of Lesvos have been placed under a “total lockdown” in Greece, and even retroactively for those of them that have been produced or left the island after January 15, by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
The measure was taken to address the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) detected at a cattle farm in the Pelopi region, in northeastern Lesvos, on 16 March.
The situation is particularly difficult, especially for livestock farmers on the island. With just a few days before Easter, more than 70,000 lambs and kids that were to be exported remain unsold.
In addition, milk collection has ceased from approximately 9,000 registered livestock units, which currently produce a total of 60 to 70 tons of milk per day.
The milk is either processed into cheese at facilities on Lesvos or exported to factories outside Greece in order to be made into the famous PDO cheeses such as ladotyri.
“Lesvos is experiencing one of the most critical moments in recent years,” Anastasia Antonelli, Vice-Regional Governor for Primary Sector, told AMNA.
“Foot-and-mouth disease could trigger a domino of developments that will threaten not only the economic but also the social cohesion of the island.”
The Ministry of Rural Development and Food announced the adoption of urgent measures to prevent the spread of the disease, while an order has also been given for the activation of the Local Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control Centres to coordinate the relevant authorities and to promptly inform the public.
On Lesvos, a protection zone with a radius of three kilometres, a surveillance zone with a radius of 10 kilometres from the contaminated farm and a further restricted zone covering the rest of the island have been established. The measures in these zones will remain in effect until 15 May 2026.
Regarding the movements of live animals, there is a total ban on all movements of susceptible species – namely cattle, sheep, goats and pigs – for slaughter, fattening, breeding or grazing, within the protection zone, the surveillance zone and the further restricted zone, for at least 10 days and until the re-evaluation of the measures based on epidemiological data and the latest guidelines.
Regarding raw milk and dairy products, it is stipulated that raw milk of sensitive species and dairy products that have already been produced or will be produced in the near future shall not be moved outside of Lesvos.
Raw milk can only be processed within the same zone from which it comes, in compliance with biosecurity measures, while heat treatment for the production of dairy products is defined as a minimum of pasteurization equivalent to 72 ° C for 15 seconds.
Dairy products produced in Lesvos are strictly consumed within the island until further notice.
Furthermore, dairy products that have already been produced in the rest of Greece from raw milk from Lesvos, as well as products that have already been moved from Lesvos to the rest of Greece from 15 January 2026 onwards, are not to be placed on the market until further notice.
There is also a special provision for vehicles transporting raw milk and dairy products within Lesvos. These vehicles must adhere to strict biosecurity measures, be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, be equipped with disinfection equipment, operate with distinct use per zone, not collect milk from free areas when moving within a restricted zone and be accompanied by the necessary cleaning and disinfection documentation. The same conditions apply to vehicles transporting dairy products.
For fresh meat and meat products, all slaughter of livestock on Lesvos is expressly prohibited until further notice.
Carcasses from animals raised on farms outside Lesvos that are already in cold storage at slaughterhouses on the island can only be traded on the local market within Lesvos.
In contrast, carcasses originating from farm animals within Lesvos can be placed on the local market only after heat treatment.
At the same time, the shipment of carcasses, meat, preparations and meat-based products from Lesvos to the rest of the country, other member states and third countries is prohibited until further notice.
With regard to animal by-products, animal by-products from cloven-hoofed animals originating from Lesbos, such as dead animals, manure, milk, hides, wool, offal, and other tissues from slaughterhouses, are prohibited from being moved off the island.
Slaughterhouses are subject to special on-island management, while hides and skins may be transported to the island’s approved intermediate handling facilities for salting and storage until further notice.
Similarly, restrictions on the movement of animal feed from Lesbos are in place as part of the overall measures implemented to prevent further spread of the disease.
At the same time, inspections and visits are being conducted at farms located in the protection and surveillance zones, with priority given to the protection zone, during which compliance with biosecurity measures is also verified.
These measures include, among others, fencing, disinfection of vehicle wheels and footwear at farm entrances and exits, continuous disinfection of materials and equipment, maintaining a visitor log, and the use of protective clothing and footwear.
The Ministry of Rural Development and Food calls on livestock farmers, traders, transporters, slaughterhouses, dairy facilities and everyone involved in the production and distribution chain to strictly adhere to the instructions of the competent veterinary authorities.
Timely compliance with the measures is critical to limiting the disease, protecting livestock and safeguarding the island’s production.
“THERE IS NO RISK TO HUMANS”
The Greek Ministry of Rural Development pointed out that “foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, and is characterised by high transmissibility and rapid spread.
It is transmitted both by direct contact and indirectly, through contaminated objects, vehicles, equipment or human activity, and can also be transmitted airborne, significantly increasing the risk of contamination of neighbouring farms.
It is not transmitted to humans and does not pose a threat to public health, however, it is among the most dangerous diseases of livestock animals and requires the immediate implementation of strict control, biosecurity and movement restriction measures.”
IMPORTS TO AUSTRALIA
In relation to the situation in Greece, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry issued a statement directed at:
“Importers and intermediaries who have imported or plan to import products containing or derived from species susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) – including cattle, sheep, pigs, deer and camelids – into Australia from Greece from 15 February 2026.”
What has changed?
“On 17 March 2026, Greece notified the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The department has undertaken a risk assessment and determined that Greece should no longer be considered free from FMD from 15 February 2026.
To manage the biosecurity risk to Australia, Greece has been removed from the FMD-free country list and the List of countries for natural casings derived from bovine, caprine, ovine or porcine animals.
Impacted goods include:
-Dairy* including cheese** that is sourced, manufactured or exported from Greece
-Personal dairy and meat food items imported as passenger personal effects or through the mail into Australia from Greece
-Casings derived from ovine or caprine animals that are sourced, manufactured or exported from Greece
-Reproductive material derived from cattle, sheep, goats, zoo bovids, giraffe or elephants sourced or exported from Greece
-Veterinary therapeutics containing ingredients derived from bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine, cervine or camelid animals domiciled in Greece
-Pet food and stock feed containing or derived from bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine, cervine or camelid materials sourced from animals domiciled in Greece
-Laboratory goods containing material derived from FMD-susceptible species (including but not limited to test kits, animal fluids and tissues, culture media, environmental samples and other laboratory materials) sourced from Greece
*Note: solid chocolate (including imitation chocolate), ripened cheese (with a permit) and goods containing less than 10% dairy for human consumption can continue to be imported into Australia from the island of Greece.
**Note: cheese will only be permitted to be imported with a valid import permit for cheese from countries which are not FMD-free. Permits will only be issued if the cheese is ripened by a method approved by the department, which includes a minimum ripening period of 30-days (pasteurised) or 120-days (unpasteurised) and a requirement to obtain a pH of 5.2 or below before and after ripening. Importers can review these conditions and apply for a permit via the departments Biosecurity Import Conditions and Food Safety Requirements (BICON).”
As for what is to come, the department stated in their 20 March announcement it “will contact individual import permit holders shortly to advise them on ongoing arrangements for their import permits.”
Regarding goods already in transit to Australia, it stated “any goods in transit will be held and assessed on a case-by-case basis”.
“Generally, product manufactured (or collected) prior to the 15 February 2026 may be released from biosecurity control if suitable evidence can be supplied to biosecurity officers.”
“Product manufactured (or collected) after 15 February 2026 may not be permitted entry into Australia and may be directed for re-export or destruction. Importers and brokers that are unsure of the status of their goods should contact [email protected] for advice before arranging for the export of any product to Australia.”
For further information, please contact the department by phone 1800 900 090 or email to [email protected].
*The above text is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the instructions of the competent Authorities. The information and relevant regulations may be modified without notice. Interested parties should refer to official sources and the competent Authorities for the most recent and valid information.
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