Morocco has suspended imports of feed grains from Germany following a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, the president of Morocco's grain trade federation (FNCL) revealed to Reuters on Thursday. Omar Yacoubi, the FNCL president, stated, «The decision affects all untreated plant-based feed intended for animal consumption from Germany due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak there». A source from ONSSA, the Moroccan public body responsible for food safety and compliance of imported food, confirmed the suspension. The source told Reuters that the suspension could only be lifted once Germany is declared free of the contagious disease or certifies certain regions as disease-free. Germany announced the outbreak on January 10, prompting trade restrictions from several countries, including Britain. On January 13, Germany's agriculture ministry acknowledged that losing its status as a country free of foot-and-mouth disease means exporting farm products outside the European Union would not be feasible. Traders informed Reuters that a cargo of barley initially destined for Morocco will now be shipped to Tunisia, as some countries continue to accept German feed grain despite the outbreak. Foot-and-mouth disease is a severe and highly contagious viral disease affecting livestock, with significant economic repercussions. Morocco has not experienced an outbreak of this disease since 2019.
