Livestock movements announced

The Government has announced that movements of slaughter stock direct to abattoir and the collection of fallen stock from farms can be resumed, subject to the terms of General Licenses designed to avoid any increased disease risk.

NFU President Peter Kendall said: "This is a measured and very necessary first step on the road towards getting the industry back to normal and maintaining supplies of home-produced meat to consumers, but it should not be taken in any way as a signal that we can afford to drop our guard. It is as vital as ever that livestock farmers remain vigilant, check their stock regularly and report anything suspicious immediately. The highest possible standards of bio-security must be maintained.

"The NFU has worked very closely with Defra and other industry stakeholders to prioritise the unwinding of movement restrictions as soon as this can be done without compromising disease control. I am satisfied that the conditions that will be applied to movements to slaughter and the collection of fallen stock will achieve that."

"The next step, on which we are in active discussion with Defra, is to introduce arrangements that will allow animals to be moved on welfare grounds, subject of course to appropriate safeguards. We recognise there are growing concerns over animal welfare, ranging from cattle due to calve away from the farm, through shortages of forage to pigs needing to move to suitable housing after weaning," Mr Kendall said..

"This has been a very difficult and tense period for farmers and the supply chain, but I think it demonstrates what we can achieve by working together."