Korea bans livestock imports from Europe

Amid reports that foot-and-mouth disease has appeared in France as well as Britain, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry suspended all imports Wednesday of livestock such as cows and pigs and related products from 15 European Union (EU) members.

A ministry official said the government placed an unlimited ban on imports of French-bred livestock and related products after the French Embassy in Seoul confirmed the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in France.

``As the disease shows signs of spreading across Europe, including Italy, where an animal thought to be infected with foot-and-mouth disease was found, we decided to temporarily suspend all quarantine inspections on such products from other EU countries,`` the official said.

On Feb. 21, the ministry banned imports of livestock and related products from Britain and suspended quarantine inspections earlier this month on those from Belgium, Germany and France.

The import ban applies to products like pork and ham. Imports of such items as pasteurized milk will continue because the virus is unable to survive at high temperatures, officials said.