Scotland's farmers seek assurances over FMD risk

National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland has sought reassurances from the Scottish government that appropriate measures are in place to minimise the risk of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) entering the country from Asia.

The union has also urged producers to maintain their vigilance and biosecurity standards and adhere to the ban on feeding food waste to their animals.

The Food and Agriculture Agency of the United Nations has urged heightened international surveillance against FMD following three recent outbreaks in Japan and South Korea.

The 2001 FMD epidemic, which spread to South Africa, the UK and Europe, is thought to have originated from outbreaks in these countries.

Imports of livestock and livestock products are already banned from these countries but illegal imports may still pose a risk.

NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said, ''The FMD outbreak in 2001 ripped the heart out of livestock production in Dumfries, Galloway and the Borders and had lasting ramifications for all Scottish agriculture.''

''Even the 2007 outbreak, although focussed on a small area in England, caused huge disruption throughout our livestock sector. Vigilance is needed on several fronts to prevent such outbreaks ever happening again,'' he said.

''Livestock and livestock products from areas currently affected by FMD cannot legally enter the country so it is illegal imports that pose the greatest threat,'' he said. ''Scotland currently has no Border Posts approved for the importation of meat products but the Scottish government works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and other EU member states to ensure controls on both legal and illegal imports are as tight as they can be within the European single market.''

''Farmers can also play their part. The main threat to Scotland would result from feeding livestock illegally imported products. Livestock keepers must adhere to the EU ban on feeding animal by-products, including kitchen waste, to livestock and to continue to maintain high standards of on-farm biosecurity,'' he said.