The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has decided to slaughter all sheep imported from France in the last three weeks following the spread of foot-and-mouth disease to that country.
The number of beasts concerned was not immediately known.
The import of animals from France has also been banned by North Rhine-Westphalia, a spokeswoman from the state's environment ministry said.
The environment ministry also called on people to postpone visits to France, and said that people returning to North Rhine-Westphalia from France by air would be asked to surrender any fresh foodstuffs.
EU veterinarians meeting in Brussels were expected to decide on similar measures.
The German move followed the first confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease in mainland Europe Tuesday at Mayenne in western France, which comes amid an epidemic that has been ravaging British farms.
Earlier today German authorities lifted a quarantine order on a farm at Vechta in the northern state of Lower Saxony after a cattle herd suspected of infection with foot-and-mouth disease tested negative.
The herd of 99 young cattle was destroyed on Sunday as a precaution against the highly infectious disease.
No incidence of foot-and-mouth has been confirmed in Germany, but 2,250 sheep imported from Britain or believed to have possibly come in contact with infected British animals have been destroyed so far.
AFP