Federated Farmers is warning customs officers at New Zealand airports to be on full alert following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in South Korea.
 
25,000 pigs and cattle are being culled on land north west of Seoul, in an effort to contain the outbreak.
 
Federated Farmers’ biosecurity spokesperson John Hartnell says foot and mouth has the potential to make its way to New Zealand on a direct flight because it can be transferred through dirt on people’s shoes. Mr.  Hartnell says New Zealand’s biosecurity rules are quite strict.