FMD Decision To Be Given On Thursday
UK - British farmers will know on Thursday if they can resume the export of livestock and livestock products from the UK, following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Surrey earlier this month.
21 August 2007
1 minute read
Regardless of the outcome, under standard EU regulations, normal movements cannot be resumed before September 8,and a number of conditions need to be met before a date for resumption can be agreed.
To date only two cases of FMD have been confirmed in Britain, with tests on two further suspected cases last week showing negative results.
A national ban on the movement of animals has been in place since August 3, although it was eased to permit movement of animals to slaughter, milking or emergency treatment.
As of Thursday, August 16 farmers are allowed move animals within their own holdings for welfare reasons. The movement of pigs is allowed to alleviate welfare problems, such as moving from breeder to grower units or from grower to finisher units. From August 23, farmers will be permitted to send animals from collection centres to slaughter.
All these amendments are subject to stringent bio-security conditions and assume no further FMD outbreaks occur.
