UK ban on all feeder rodent imports from Lithuania used as pet food

The Department for Environment, Farm and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced that the import from Lithuania of mice and rats used as animal feed will be prohibited from 17 February 2022. This decision has been made due to an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis among the UK public, which has been linked to mice imported from Lithuania for use as animal feed, particularly for reptiles.

All four UK countries have published a declaration of special measures relating to this decision, which will remain in place until revoked or amended. The measures will be reviewed over the coming months to take into account any actions taken by Lithuanian authorities to control the risk from imports of feeder rodents in the long-term.

Source: DEFRA, 16 February 2022