A US footwear manufacturer has cited the European foot and mouth disease (FMD) crisis as one of the reasons behind its decision to permanently lay off 20% of its workforce.

Both managers and shoemakers were among the forty workers who were made redundant last week at the Falcon Shoe Company. Higher raw materials prices caused by the European FMD crisis, together with the continuing recession in the US shoemaking industry, are the main reasons cited by the company for the layoffs.

Based in Lewiston, Maine, Falcon makes high-end hunting-style and work boots that are sold under the Falcon brand, as well as under other company brands such as L.L. Bean.

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