Farmers told to be wary when importing livestock from 'at risk' countries

UK farmers have been urged to exercise "extreme caution" when importing sheep from 'at risk' countries
UK farmers have been urged to exercise "extreme caution" when importing sheep from 'at risk' countries

Farmers must "think hard" when importing sheep from countries that carry a risk of disease following the discovery of bluetongue in four sheep imported from France.

Farmers and traders involved in importing livestock have been urged to be aware of the risks, and also aware that they may not only be putting individual farms at risk, but the entire livestock industry.

Bluetongue virus was detected in a consignment of four sheep imported from France in October.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) identified the disease as part of routine post-import testing when the sheep were brought to Lancashire. The four sheep have been humanely culled as a result.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has now told farmers to exercise "extreme caution" when importing sheep.

NSA Chief Executive, Phil Stocker said: “In this situation something has gone wrong, which means potentially infected sheep were brought into the UK.

“Fortunately, APHA controls identified this and the animals having been destroyed. With no compensation this will have cost the importer in question serious money let alone the costs incurred by APHA.”

'Buyer beware'

The sheep organisation said farmers should consider taking steps beyond statutory controls to give real assurance when importing livestock from outside the UK.

Mr Stocker said: “While in this case it is a legal requirement for stock to have been vaccinated for bluetongue prior to export this case shows the system cannot be fully relied upon.

“The NSA would like to see farmers and traders apply the ‘buyer beware’ principle and to have the animals tested to make sure they have developed immunity prior to leaving the farm of origin.”

Farmers in several European countries continue to suffer from ongoing problems with several different strains of bluetongue virus, mainly picked up in routine surveillance.

Mr Stocker added: “Whilst we recognise that there are valuable bloodlines available in some of these areas, there is no benefit to anyone in spreading this disease and we would expect anyone looking to bring animals into the UK to take every precaution against this.

“Animals arriving in the UK should be kept in isolation until APHA has completed tests, but even with this, it would be very hard to isolate them in such a way that midges are unable to get to them and potentially cause a major outbreak here in the UK,” he said.

The NSA has urge farmers to run full risk assessments and "think hard" before importing animals from any ‘at risk’ areas.

In addition to checking vaccinations, the group advises farmers to demand a PCR and serology blood test before livestock leave the departing farm and country.