German Agriculture Minister visits farm trade fair in Berlin amid FMD concerns

German Agriculture Minister visited a major trade fair in Berlin as an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) threatens the country's agricultural exports. No livestock are allowed in the venue in order to prevent the disease's spread, with fake animals in place instead.

Three cases of FMD were detected Friday in water buffalo on a farm near Berlin, Germany's first reported incidents in more than three decades and the first in the European Union since 2011.

Britain on Tuesday banned imports of German cattle, pigs and sheep after South Korea and Mexico earlier halted pork imports from Germany.

Neighbouring Poland has also ramped up controls on German livestock, though the EU member stopped short of halting imports. German authorities have been scrambling to limit the potential spread of the disease, culling other animals near the affected farm, testing herds nearby and limiting shipments from the affected area.