In the world of temperature-controlled transport, every regulatory change can have a tangible impact on how international logistics flows are organised.
Following Italy and France, Spain has now lost its “LSD-free” status after the official confirmation of an outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
The announcement was published by the UK Government on 6 October 2025 and entails an immediate adjustment of import rules into Great Britain for goods of bovine origin.
At a glance
-
Spain has lost its “LSD-free” status (6 October 2025).
-
Spanish bovine products are now subject to the same import rules as those from Italy and France.
-
Affected goods: meat, milk, cheese, hides and other by-products.
-
Additional veterinary certification and stricter controls are now required.
-
Contact dogana@freshways.it
for assistance with shipments of Spanish origin.
What is Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)
Lumpy Skin Disease is a viral illness affecting cattle and is one of the diseases subject to international sanitary restrictions.
It poses no risk to humans, but it can spread rapidly among herds, with direct consequences for the trade of meat, milk and dairy products.
When a country is no longer considered LSD-free, UK authorities apply stricter import measures to protect the food supply chain and consumer safety.
What changes for imports from Spain
From 6 October 2025, Spain is subject to the same sanitary requirements already applied to Italy and France.
All products of bovine origin must now be accompanied by specific veterinary documentation and may be subject to enhanced customs checks.
The categories concerned include:
-
fresh or processed beef;
-
milk and dairy products such as cheese, butter and yoghurt;
-
hides and leather of animal origin;
-
by-products intended for food or industrial use.
For those involved in international food transport, this means planning shipments more carefully to ensure customs compliance and smooth flows towards the United Kingdom.
Impacts on temperature-controlled transport
In our sector, documentation compliance is as important as maintaining the correct temperature.
The new rules require stricter verification of the origin of goods and the validity of veterinary certificates.
For companies organising temperature-controlled food transport, this involves:
✅ Careful verification of product origin (particularly for groupage shipments);
✅ Checking all veterinary documents (EHC, declarations of origin, health certificates);
✅ Ensuring temperature requirements are met throughout the cold chain;
✅ Ongoing coordination with the customs department and the UK operator.
As previously seen for Italy and France, the goal is to ensure that every product reaches the UK in full compliance with health regulations and under proper temperature conditions.
What this update teaches us
Each regulatory change reminds us how interconnected the European agri-food system is.
A health event in one country can have immediate consequences for others, influencing logistics, inspections and delivery schedules.
For those working in food transport, it highlights the need for an increasingly collaborative approach, where producers, carriers and customs authorities share the same goal: safeguarding food safety and the continuity of supply chains.
Once again, the key factor is traceability: knowing the exact origin of goods and ensuring accurate documentation are the foundations of safe and compliant transport.
Fresh Ways’ commitment
At Fresh Ways, we closely monitor developments in both European and British regulations related to temperature-controlled transport and UK customs procedures.
Our Customs Department, in collaboration with EORI (UK) Ltd, ensures continuous oversight of sanitary regulations and provides operational support to:
-
prepare the documentation required for import into the United Kingdom;
-
manage veterinary inspections and customs holds;
-
assist customers in the event of DEFRA checks;
-
ensure traceability and full compliance of every shipment.
For clarification or assistance with goods originating from Spain, please contact: dogana@freshways.it
Official reference
➡️ UK Government – Outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease in Spain (6 October 2025)
Conclusion
The new measures concerning Spain confirm the importance of staying up to date with every regulatory aspect affecting international food logistics.
In a constantly evolving context, collaboration and expertise remain essential to ensure safe and compliant shipments.
Fresh Ways will continue to provide temperature-controlled transport fully aligned with both UK and EU regulations — combining precision, reliability and technology to protect what truly matters: the quality of Italian excellence.
