The United States tonight suspended all imports of animals and animal products from the European Union after the confirmation of the first foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in France.
Imports of beef from the European Union already were banned because of mad cow disease.
The United States suspended all meat and animal imports from Britain on February 21st and ordered stepped-up checks of travellers arriving from the United Kingdom.
Airline passengers who have visited the British countryside are required to have their shoes disinfected.
Now, travellers from the European Union also may be subject to additional scrutiny.
In addition to the ban on shipments from the European Union, USDA said it was sending a team of 40 federal, state and university experts to Europe to monitor and assist in the efforts to contain the disease.
The department said it also will increase its public education efforts in the United States by installing more signs in airports, sponsoring public service announcements and providing a telephone hotline for information.
Canada also announced today it was extending a ban on all agricultural imports to cover the whole 15-nation European Union.
AP