FMD movement relaxation tinged by bluetongue
Defra has announced a relaxation of livestock movements for farmers affected by Foot and Mouth Disease from this afternoon. The changes to animal movements will come as a relief to the region's livestock farmers.
But the announcement has been tinged by the confirmation of a third case of Bluetongue in East Anglia. With the introduction today of a Bluetongue Temporary Area, livestock producers in Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire will now have to live with further regulations because Bluetongue has been found in cattle in Suffolk.
"NFU has been in detailed discussions with Defra for some time to try and relieve the pressure on livestock enterprises caught within the FMD movement restrictions," explained NFU's senior food and farming adviser, Simon Fisher. "But although the relaxation of restrictions will help, East Midlands' farmers in four of the region's counties are now bound by additional restrictions, and are part of the control strategy for Bluetongue.
"A Bluetongue Temporary Area, which includes East Anglia, has been introduced over the greater part of our region, except for Derbyshire," added Mr Fisher. "It means that farmers in the Bluetongue Area must not move live animals outside that area except for slaughter."
The designation means that when Bluetongue is confirmed as circulating in this country, the four counties of Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire will be included in the formal Bluetongue Surveillance Zone, centred on Suffolk.
The Defra announcement means that producers can move livestock within the Bluetongue Temporary Area, but must abide by strict record keeping and biosecurity conditions and a 20-day standstill. Susceptible animals (cattle, sheep, goats, deer and camelids) can only move out of the BTA if they are going to slaughter.
The changed movement restrictions came into force this afternoon (Tuesday). For more details and for information about the conditions attached to the farm to farm movements, view the Defra website, http://www.defra.gov.uk
Mr Fisher continued: "For producers in Derbyshire, the relaxation of movements allows them to move animals around the rest of the country and into the Bluetongue Temporary Area, as animals can move from areas of lower disease risk to higher disease risk. The relaxation allows for movements from farm to farm, including the trade of store and breeding animals, but with a 20-day standstill. It is a much-needed development at this difficult time of year."
