The UK has partially resumed the import of German meat and dairy products, following the amendment of a ban introduced following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD).

The decision will see meat and dairy from livestock such as cattle, pigs, sheep, deer, and buffaloes, located outside Germany’s contamination zone, be allowed back into the UK.

However, exports will still be restricted from a containment zone covering a 6km radius around the outbreak.

The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) added that the decision, which was made following “rigorous” technical assessments of Germany’s situation, can he changed at any point.

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It is understood FMD poses no risk to human or food safety but is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals.

Defra originally stepped up measures against German imports in January, in a move it said aimed to “protect farmers and their livelihoods”, after a case of the disease was reported in Germany.

Speaking at the time, chief veterinary officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said: “We have robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security, which means using all measures to limit the risk of incursion and spread of this devastating disease.