Preliminary results of foot-and-mouth tests on pig samples from an abattoir are due on Tuesday.
Foot lesions have been detected at the County Antrim slaughterhouse in Northern Ireland and samples were sent for testing at the Institute for Animal Health.
Movement restrictions and other conditions were imposed by Chief Veterinary Officer Bert Houston at the abattoir and the premises of origin.
Officials believe the symptoms could be linked to Swine Vesicular Disease, or foot-and-mouth, which paralysed food production and tourism events across the UK in 2001.
The outbreak led to the slaughter of 6.5 million animals, devastated many farms and rural businesses and is estimated to have cost the UK up to £8 billion.
Mr Houston said on Monday: "This morning, as part of routine surveillance at an abattoir in County Antrim, foot lesions were detected in a number of pigs presented for slaughter.
"As a precautionary measure samples have been taken and are being sent to the Institute for Animal Health in England for testing for foot-and-mouth disease and swine vesicular disease."
He said preliminary results were expected on Tuesday.
