RESUMEN
The authors highlight the importance of trade in dairy products in South America and throughout the world, and discuss the problem of restrictions engendered by foot and mouth disease (FMD) on exports to countries free from the disease. The epidemiological features of the disease and properties of the causal agent are described in relation to the dairy industry, with special reference to survival of the virus. Discussion then focuses on the risk of foot and mouth disease in relation to the effects the disease has on animal production before and after milking and the industrial processing of dairy products. Finally, the authors review progress achieved in FMD control and eradication programmes in Latin America, particularly in the southern sector where countries such as Chile and Uruguay are free from the disease, while in other countries (such as Argentina, Paraguay and parts of southern Brazil) no case has been reported for more than two years. It is concluded that dairy products can be exported from the region without creating a risk to animal health, provided that there has been proper risk analysis, according to the clearly defined regionalization criteria.