THE rapid spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among livestock is the result of a combination of two government failures: problematic regulations and tardy actions in anticipation of the spread of this disease. This poor state of affairs could have wide-ranging impacts and could result in huge losses.

Foot-and-mouth disease first appeared in East Java and Aceh in the middle of April. According to data to from the ministry of agriculture, 6,720