Immediate dairy action on foot and mouth outbreak

Dairy UK said today the dairy industry has activated immediately a full range of precautionary biosecurity measures nationally in view of the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Dairy UK Director General, Jim Begg, said the dairy industry had responded 'swiftly and effectively' to the outbreak.

The dairy industry has activated its code of good practice devised in conjunction with the government. Dairy companies, co-operatives, hauliers and other milk buyers are committed to the code.

Mr Begg added: "Today's news is deeply disappointing but there is no reason for anyone not to continue their consumption of dairy products as usual.

"The Food Standards Agency has made it absolutely clear that there are no public health and safety issues for the human food chain so there's no reason to expect any adverse consumer reaction.

"The issuing of certificates for the export of dairy products to the European Union has been temporarily suspended until new EU Commission procedures come into force but we expect this to happen quickly. The same applies to exports to non-EU destinations.

"We are monitoring the situation carefully and are in regular contact with Defra."