December 1, 2005

Vaccinated meat imports are Scottish livestock's highest health risk

Legally imported meat is the biggest disease threat to livestock, as much of these meat came from animals vaccinated against various diseases such as FMD, Scotland's parliamentary committee was told Nov 30.

Quality Meat Scotland's industry development manager Andy McGowan shared that the vaccinations are a threat to animal health as "no vaccination programme is 100 percent effective".

However, he added that these meats are not a threat to human health.

McGowan presented this information to Scotland's Holyrood rural affairs committee for the draft of its Animal Health and Welfare Bill.