Officials at the State's ports and airports are urged to be on high alert as there is still a "significant risk" of foot-and-mouth disease recurring in the State.
The Government, farming organisations and a leading veterinary expert have called for extreme vigilance after a recent sustained increase in outbreaks of the disease in Northumberland, in the north-east of England.
"Over the summer, there has been some evidence of complacency in disinfection measures," said a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture.
Prof P.J. Quinn, professor of veterinary microbiology and parasitology at the faculty of veterinary medicine in UCD, said there was a risk that foot-and-mouth could be transported easily, and often inadvertently, from the UK into the State.
He warned that officials at ports and airports needed to be especially vigilant when examining transport vehicles.
Vehicles that have travelled through affected areas should be totally excluded from entering the State, he said.
The Republic needed to be in a state of high alert, he added.
The State has had one confirmed outbreak of the disease so far, at a farm at Proleek, Co Louth. The Department continues to advise farmers to maintain disinfection.
A Department spokesman said the outbreaks in Northumberland were "a timely reminder that we are not out of the woods yet". He said controls at the airport were as stringent as they had been since the crisis began last February.
These controls were being monitored and maintained by Department staff, and would remain in place until the end of the crisis.
Precautions would only be completely relaxed at least 30 days after the last outbreak in the UK.
The spokesman said there were extensive disinfection measures in place at ports and airports. Transport vehicles were being disinfected and having their loads checked.
Passengers from the UK were being told not to bring in food products and to contact the Department's officials at ports or airports if they had been on a farm in the UK, he said.
Gardai say their foot-and-mouth checkpoints at the Border have "moved from static to mobile". Prof Quinn said transport vehicles entering the State needed to be closely examined. Those carrying cattle, sheep, horses, pigs or animal produce should be checked. Hay, straw and bedding for animals needed to be checked, as such material could carry the virus.
Officials should ask about the vehicle's current and previous cargo, its route and any places where it stopped.
Mr Tom Parlon, president of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), said: "The increased threat of foot-and-mouth from the UK is very serious, and it is of vital importance that strict vigilance be maintained at all ports and airports."
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) said: "The fullest co-ordination North and South is required to maintain a fortress approach against foot-and-mouth." Its president, Mr Pat O'Rourke, also said an all-Ireland animal health agency should be established.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, has announced a further relaxation in foot-and-mouth controls at marts. They may now hold sales of cattle and sheep on the same day.
The Minister said he made this decision in the light of the advice received from the Expert Group on controls and in recognition of the coming busy autumn season at marts. He stressed, however, that marts must continue to adopt stringent precautions.