September 28, 2007

UK to ease restrictions next week on moving livestock

UK authorities will ease restrictions next week on moving livestock to markets in areas classified as being low risk for foot-and-mouth disease, the BBC reported Thursday (September 27) on its Web site.

Farmers will be able to move their livestock starting October 4, as long as the situation doesn't change, the report said.

The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, or Defra, said the relaxation of current restrictions would be subject to "stringent" biosecurity measures, according to the BBC.

The current control measures in the foot-and-mouth low-risk area are to remain in place until next Thursday. The low-risk area covers the rest of the UK outside both Defra's declared foot-and-mouth risk area and areas in which bluetongue restrictions apply.