Northern Ireland import ban extended

The emergency ban on importing female cattle from bluetongue zones to Northern Ireland has been extended.

The ban will now last until Wednesday, March 12, and is likely to become law after the European Commission proposed a permanent amendment to movement restrictions.

The ban applies to all female cattle over 12 months and female sheep over 6 months from bluetongue restricted zones, and was imposed after scientists confirmed the potential for transplacental transmission of the bluetongue virus.

The original ban followed the discovery of virus positive calves born to virus negative dams imported to Northern Ireland from the Netherlands.