Dairy industry well prepared for foot and mouth outbreak

Dairy UK said today the dairy industry was well prepared to respond effectively to the foot and mouth outbreak in Surrey.

Dairy companies, co-operatives, hauliers and other milk buyers will be operating to a code of good practice devised in conjunction with the government.

Milk produced outwith the protection and surveillance zone in Surrey is not subject to any special restrictions at present.

Milk collected and processed within the zone is subject to extra precautionary measures. All milk in the area has to be pasteurised and pasteurised milk carries no health risk.

Jim Begg, director general of Dairy UK, said: "The dairy industry has a very robust set of procedures in place due the extensive homework done following the 2001 outbreak.

"The quality and integrity of milk is secure and there is no reason for anyone not to continue their consumption of dairy products as usual.

"We have worked continuously with Defra to develop a code of good practice for the dairy industry.

"Extra precautions, such as disinfecting lorry wheels and heat treating milk, are being put in place in the affected area. We are monitoring the situation carefully and are in regular contact with Defra."