Export noose for German meat sector due to FMD

The outbreak of FMD in a herd of water buffalo in the German state of Brandenburg has major consequences for German meat exports. It hampers sales to third markets outside Europe, market leader Tönnies reports.

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute reported earlier today an outbreak of the contagious animal disease on a farm near Berlin. The animals were culled as a precaution. This means that the virus has been back in Germany since 1988. In addition to cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and deer are also susceptible to the virus. 

Export barriers 
The exact consequences cannot yet be determined. However, Tönnies, Germany's largest meat company, has announced that the outbreak will hamper sales of pork and beef to third countries. This specifically refers to large sales markets such as South Korea, Japan and the Philippines, where many slaughter by-products are shipped. In addition, it will probably complicate the reopening of the Chinese sales market for German pork, which has been closed since the outbreak of African swine fever in Germany in 2020. The impact of the FMD outbreak on the company and the German meat industry is significant, according to the food company. 

To what extent, for example, German dairy exporters are also hampered by protocols that are likely to be put into effect by the outbreak of FMD, is not yet known. The Netherlands does not yet have to take measures, said Minister of Agriculture Femke Wiersma earlier today.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is Head of Meat & Dairy at BoerenbusinessAt DCA Market Intelligence, he focuses on dairy, pork, and meat markets. He also monitors (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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