Welfare plea as movement ban lifted

LIVESTOCK movement restrictions designed to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease and blue tongue will be eased next week.

But farming leaders in the North-East and Yorkshire still want an emergency sheep welfare scheme introduced in the region.

The Government yesterday (Fri) said a 3km protection zone around farms infected with foot and mouth in Egham, Surrey - and restrictions in low risk areas including this region - will be lifted on Wednesday, provided there are no more suspected cases.

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Markets within the blue tongue control and protection zones - which stretch from Lincolnshire to East Sussex - will return from midnight on Sunday and movements to approved slaughterhouses outside the zones will also be allowed.

Fred Landeg, the deputy chief veterinary officer, said the removal of the GB movement ban, outside of the FMD Risk Area, should help the farming industry start to get back to business-as-usual.