August 7, 2007

 

Scotland to lose millions if meat exports ban continue

 

 

Scottish farmers they could lose millions if the three-month ban on meat exports, imposed following the outbreak of foot-and- mouth-disease (FMD) in England, stays.

 

The last time FMD hit Britain in 2001, it led to the culling of between 6.5 and ten million animals at a cost of about GBP 8.5 billion (US$17.26 billion) to the economy.

 

The meat sector in Scotland believes it is unfair for producers to ban meat if UK officials claim that the virus has already been contained. Northern Ireland and Ireland are already calling for the European Commission, which is in charge of the ban, to lift export restrictions in their area.

 

The First Minister, Alex Salmond, said it was vital the country's meat industry should get moving again as soon as possible. He said the market is just picking up again following the lifting on beef exports by other countries over mad cow disease scare.

 

Trade players are hoping biosecurity has been increased to contain the spread of the disease.

 

The latest outbreak has been linked to a laboratory - home to a government research centre and a company that makes foot-and-mouth vaccine - in Surrey and remained confined to the one farm, although cattle have been destroyed in the area as a precaution.

 

Although scientists remain cautious at this early stage of the outbreak, there were calls in Scotland for moves to minimise damage to the industry as soon as possible.

 

James Withers, the deputy chief executive of the National Farmers Union (NFU) in Scotland, said that if the outbreak is contained to Surrey, the NFU will be calling on the European Commission to regionalise the export ban so areas hundreds of miles away can start moving meat earlier.

 

Since the export ban on beef was lifted in Scotland in March 2006 it has earned Scotland GBP 15 million and lamb exports are worth GBP 18 million per annum.

 

Speaking at Turriff Agricultural Show, Salmond said the Executive would look at export bans once the disease has been contained. He said the priority is to identify the source of infection and to make sure that it is contained. Once that has been done, the first thing is to get Scottish livestock moving again and to push for rapid decisions, certainly in Scotland to address features on the export ban, he said.

 

But Aberdeen microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington said it was unlikely such as move would be made lightly.  He said the FMD virus is still "hot" and persuading the EU to lift the ban early is impossible.

 

FMD surfaced on Friday (August 3) on the farm near the Surrey village of Normandy. All movement of livestock was banned across the UK. At the same time a three-month ban on the export on all meat from cloven-hoofed animals was brought in.