October 15, 2007

UK to lift animal move ban outside FMD risk area

The UK's Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs Friday announced intentions to lift October 17 all restrictions on livestock movements outside the foot-and-mouth risk area.

The move will coincide with the lifting of the foot-and-mouth Protection Zone in Surrey, in southern England. Defra said this is provided there is no change to the disease situation.

"This decision has been taken following extensive surveillance in the area, and is in line with European Union rules," Defra said in a statement.

Meanwhile the foot-and-mouth Surveillance Zone will remain in place until at least Nov. 5. The foot-and-mouth Risk Area will also remain, but Defra said the size of this area and the movement restrictions currently imposed are subject to continual review. Markets within the foot-and-mouth area will remain closed.

Defra also announced that as of midnight October 14, markets within the Bluetongue Control and Protection Zones will be permitted as well as movement of animals to approved slaughterhouses outside the Bluetongue Zones.

UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Fred Landeg, said the removal of the movement ban "should help the farming industry start to get back to business as usual."

"The resumption of markets and movements to a larger number of slaughterhouses should also ease the impact felt by farmers within the Bluetongue zones," Landeg said.