Morocco has halted imports of feed grains from Germany following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, according to Omar Yacoubi, head of Morocco’s grain trade federation (FNCL). The suspension applies to all untreated plant-based feed intended for animal consumption from Germany.
The Moroccan food safety agency, ONSSA, confirmed that plant-based feed imports from Germany will remain suspended until the country is declared free of the disease, or specific regions are certified as disease-free.
Germany reported its first foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in nearly 40 years on January 10, in a herd of water buffalo in Brandenburg. This has prompted several countries, including the UK, to impose trade restrictions on German livestock-related products.
In response to the restrictions, some traders have sourced feed barley from France instead of Germany for Moroccan shipments, while other countries, such as Tunisia, continue to accept German feed grain. Foot-and-mouth disease, which affects cloven-hoofed animals but not humans, is common in some regions, including Africa. Morocco has not experienced an outbreak since 2019.