Demand for EU exports clampdown on cattle from bluetongue

Pressure was mounting yesterday for an EU clampdown on cattle exports from areas affected by bluetongue, following the discovery of an isolated case in Kirkcudbright last week.

It was led by the Scottish farms minister Richard Lochhead when he called for an urgent review of EU export controls in order to prevent the virus spreading.

Mr Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, wrote to Secretary of State Hilary Benn calling on his commitment to obtain a review of the robustness of existing safeguards, and to work with the European Union to tighten export rules.

Over the last three weeks, three consignments of animals transported to the UK from Bluetongue restricted zones in Europe have tested positive for the virus, the most recent being the Kirkcudbright case, one of 35 cattle imported to Scotland from Bremen in Germany.

Mr Lochhead said it was fortunate that the virus was picked up by the UK's strict post-import testing protocols.