FMD Disease Restrictions To Be Eased
UK - The government's chief vet is to ease some animal restrictions imposed after the outbreak of foot-and-mouth, despite a seventh case being confirmed.
25 September 2007
1 minute read
| Cattle can be moved between farms in low-risk areas |
From 1530 BST animals can be moved from farm to farm under licence in "low risk areas", but markets cannot be held.
However, restrictions remain in place in much of the south-east of England surrounding the Surrey outbreaks.
Meanwhile, another case of bluetongue virus has been found at the Suffolk farm where it was confirmed earlier.
Richard Storer, owner of the Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm, near Ipswich, told BBC Radio Suffolk it had been "one hell of a week" for him and his family.
"We've come through it and hopefully it's all over now," he said.
"The blood samples, taken from the animals yesterday, will take some time before we know there are no other animals on the place with the virus."
A surveillance zone covering parts of East Anglia and the East Midlands has been put in place to monitor bluetongue.
'Severe problems'
Chief vet Debby Reynolds says she was aware of the devastating economic impact the foot-and-mouth restrictions were having on hill and upland farmers.
A seventh case of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed on Monday at a farm in Englefield Green, Surrey, but it is within the existing Egham protection zone.
