October 9, 2007

UK government pledges US$25.4 million aid to FMD and bluetongue areas

The British government has pledged a US$25.4 million (12.5 million pound sterling) rescue package to support farmers in England struck by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

The package announced by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn includes 8.5 million pound sterling in one-off payments to hill farmers, 1 million pound sterling for full compensation for culled stock, and 2 million pound sterling to help promote British meat. The aid package also includes 1 million pound sterling for farming charities and a loosening of red tape to reduce paper work for farmers who are experiencing difficulties.

Benn said farmers had had an "exceptionally difficult summer" with the double impact of foot-and- mouth-disease

and bluetongue in the past months.

The National Farmer's Union (NFU) welcomed the news, but said the aid amount is still short of what is needed. The NFU described the amount as effectively a drop in the ocean compared with more than 100 million pound sterling the outbreak has cost the industry.

NFU President Peter Kendall said in a statement "The measures announced by the government are a whole lot better than nothing and the assistance for hill farmers will be particularly welcome."

He called on the government to be prepared to offer additional support.

The government's support follows the decision by animal health officials last week that livestock markets could resume in some parts of Britain thought not at risk of foot-and-mouth disease or bluetongue.

However, farmers in the south-east of England that are within the risk zones are still prohibited from taking their livestock to market.