September 7, 2007

UK eases foot-and-mouth restrictions and opens livestock markets

The UK government is lifting restrictions imposed after the foot-and-mouth outbreak to allow livestock markets to resume from Monday (Sep 10).

This meant that livestock shows would be permitted for all areas of England and Wales outside the surveillance zone near Guildford, Surrey, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said.

Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Officer said the easing of the restrictions is part of the department's staged risk-based approach to easing controls.

There still remains conditions that apply while the surveillance zone remains in place and livestock owners should adhere to these restrictions.

Merial Health, the company where the latest outbreak was said to have originated from, was allowed to restart production of non-live vaccines against the disease.