Japan to Strengthen Animal Quarantine at Airports

Tokyo, Dec. 21 (Jiji Press)--Japan's farm ministry said Tuesday it will strengthen animal quarantine at airports following the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in South Korea.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has asked
airports and airlines to require passengers on international flights to go
to animal quarantine stations if they have visited farms or have mud on
their shoes.
The ministry will also increase the use of detector dogs that sniff
out meat products to prevent passengers from brining in meat from tainted
countries.
Through these efforts, the government hopes to prevent the disease
from entering the country, especially during the year-end to February travel
season.
Foot-and-mouth disease in South Korea was eradicated in June, but
returned in late November, according to the ministry.
In that country, a total of 180,000 animals had to be culled as of
Monday.