The North's Department of Agriculture is to launch a major foot-and-mouth awareness campaign in the wake of fresh outbreaks of the disease in England.
A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) said the promotion of even more stringent "fortress farming" measures were the North's best bet to stay disease-free.
"While all the protection measures are still in place from the last outbreak in April we will be launching a strong advertising campaign in the coming days reminding farmers and the public not to let their guard down," he said.
The main protection measures in place in the North consist of certifying all animal movement between farms, discouraging the entering of farm premises by the public, preventing the mixing of sheep and cattle on pastures and stringently monitoring ports and airports.
The spokesman stressed that his Department regarded the North's ports and airports as the "main bastion" against the disease.
"Due to our geographical location, our ports and airports would be the main bastion against foot-and-mouth. This has been the main reason why the disease has been controllable here as well as in the Republic rather than reaching the epidemic proportions it has reached in England.
"All animal imports from England remain strictly banned, and heavy disinfectant is in place at all points of entry into Northern Ireland. As to all other restrictions in place we would consider increasing them if the situation demanded it," he added.
Since the first outbreak, Northern Ireland has had four confirmed cases: one in south Armagh, two in Co Tyrone and one on the Antrim coast. About 60,000 animals, mainly sheep, have been culled as a preventive measure.
Only last week there were two suspected cases at one of the North's largest meat-processing companies, Linden Foods Ltd, in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, where two cattle were found to have mouth lesions. The plant was closed as a precautionary measure until DARD vets gave the all-clear on Friday.
The North's Agriculture Minister, Ms Brid Rodgers, and the president of the Ulster Farmers' Union, Mr Douglas Rowe, agreed that the incident highlighted the need for continuing vigilance by farmers.
Sheep exports from Northern Ireland to the Republic and the Continent resumed on July 1st. The beef export ban is still in place.
The North's chief veterinary officer, Dr Bob McCracken, last night described the new cases in England as a "disturbing development".