Britain has banned individuals from bringing meat and dairy products into the country from the European Union as a precaution against foot-and-mouth disease

Britain has banned travellers from bringing meat and dairy products into the country for personal use from all EU countries from Saturday in a bid to prevent the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic.

The British government issued a communique Friday saying that from Saturday, travelers will not be able to bring into Britain for personal use beef, lamb and pork, as well as dairy products, including sandwiches, cheese, cured meat, raw meat or milk from European Union countries, Xinhua reported. Regardless of whether these items are packaged or not, or whether they are purchased in a duty-free shop.

Violations of the ban will be considered illegal and the contraband will be confiscated or destroyed, the communique said. In England, those in possession of such items could face fines of up to £5,000.

Earlier this year, the United Kingdom banned individuals from bringing in meat and dairy products from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria due to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the relevant countries. The ban was extended to all EU countries in response to the changing risk of the outbreak. There have been no reported cases of foot and mouth disease in the UK.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly infectious viral disease that affects even-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs. The main symptoms of the infected animals are elevated body temperature, blistering and ulceration of the oral mucosa and hoof. The disease can lead to reduced production of infected animals, affecting related meat and dairy production and marketing.