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7 clusters · 2 sources · 61 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: BUSINESS · HEALTH

UK raw‑milk cheese import ban

Entities: France · Italy · Lumpy Skin Disease · Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) · UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)

Overview

In early June 2026 Defra barred imports of unpasteurised‑milk cheeses from France and Italy after Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) was confirmed in Sardinia (21 June 2025) and near Chambéry (29 June 2025). The ban also covers live cattle, and cheeses produced before 23 May 2025 may still enter the UK with the required paperwork, meaning shortages of artisan varieties such as brie, Roquefort, Vacherin, mozzarella and pecorino are expected to develop gradually.

The restriction was reiterated on 24 June and extended on 4 July to include travellers bringing raw‑milk cheese into the UK. Italy’s LSD‑free status was revoked, and the ban applies to all unpasteurised cheeses, now listed to include French Mimolette, Tomme and reblochon. Canada introduced a parallel ban on unpasteurised cheeses from the same countries.

Defra stresses that LSD can survive in raw milk but poses no human‑health risk. Quarantine zones and vaccination programmes have been established in the affected French and Italian regions, and officials note the disease spreads via flies and mosquitoes. Pasteurised cheeses remain unaffected, and EU‑internal cheese sales continue unchanged, while UK consumers face ongoing shortages.

Timeline

  1. 4 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    UK bans raw‑milk cheese imports from France, Italy over cattle disease

    Defra bans raw‑milk cheese imports from France and Italy after LSD outbreaks in cattle, also halting live cattle imports; exemptions apply to pre‑May‑23 cheese with paperwork.

  2. 9 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    UK bans raw‑milk cheese imports from France and Italy over cattle disease

    Defra has banned UK imports of raw‑milk cheeses from France and Italy after LSD outbreaks in cattle, also restricting live cattle imports; existing stocks before 23 May may still enter with paperwork.

  3. 17 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    UK bans raw‑milk cheese imports from France and Italy over Lumpy Skin Disease

    The UK has halted imports of raw‑milk cheeses and live cattle from France and Italy after Lumpy Skin Disease outbreaks were confirmed in Sardinia and near Chambéry, citing safety concerns.

  4. 24 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    UK bans raw‑milk cheese imports from France and Italy over cattle disease

    The UK has banned raw‑milk cheese imports from France and Italy after LSD cases were confirmed in cattle, restricting commercial shipments and traveller imports while exempting pre‑May‑2025 cheese with proper p

  5. about 1 month ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    UK bans raw‑milk cheese imports from France and Italy over Lumpy Skin Disease

    The UK has banned raw‑milk cheese imports from France and Italy due to Lumpy Skin Disease outbreaks, also restricting live cattle; exemptions apply for pre‑May 23 cheese with paperwork, while critics call the措施

  6. about 2 months ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    UK bans raw milk cheese imports from France and Italy due to cattle disease

    The UK has halted imports of raw‑milk cheeses and live cattle from France and Italy after Lumpy Skin Disease cases were reported, exempting pre‑May‑23 cheeses and sparing pasteurised varieties.

  7. 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    UK bans raw‑milk cheese imports from France and Italy over cattle disease

    The UK has banned imports of raw‑milk cheeses from France and Italy, and live cattle, to stop the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease after cases were confirmed in Sardinia and near Chambéry.

Sources

diningandcooking.com · katarina-stoltz.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history