Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was the first animal disease for which the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH) established an official disease-free list. Many countries in the global north have established freedom from FMD. However, FMD is endemic throughout many countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as some parts of South America. 

Foot-and-mouth disease is important globally. Countries with recognized freedom from disease are concerned with ensuring this status is maintained, whereas where disease is endemic it has an impact on livestock production and trading opportunities. 

Countries where FMD is endemic or sporadic are sub-divided into seven regional Pools aligned to the genetic and antigenic analysis of circulating FMD virus. These regional pools are used to structure activities within the Global FMD Control Strategy , which is managed by the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs). The European Commission for the control of FMD is a member of the GF-TADs FMD working group, along with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and WOAH. 

The current status of FMD globally is available on the WOAH website.