August 21, 2007

Scotland's meat industry lobbies EU to lift import ban
 

Representatives of Scotland's meat industry will begin talks this week with European Union officials about unwinding trade restrictions set up after foot-and-mouth was discovered in southern England in early August.

"The importance of getting Scottish red meat back into Europe cannot be overestimated," the president of Scotland's National Farmers' Union Jim McLaren said Monday (Aug 20).

All British exports of live animals, meat and dairy products to other EU member states were banned on Aug 6.

Last week, England's government said the risk of foot-and-mouth spreading beyond the area of an initial outbreak was now "very low".

McLaren added all current evidence suggests the disease has been contained and thus options for resuming meat exports can begin.

On Thursday, EU officials will review the latest disease situation and its implications on trade.

The highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease was discovered on two farms in southern England, which were both in close proximity to labs working on vaccines to control the disease.

Beef is the single largest sector within Scotland's agricultural industry.