NFU welcomes easing of Bluetongue restrictions‏

The Government's decision to declare a "vector-free period", as from December 20, so as to relax movements of animals under licence out of the bluetongue restricted areas has been welcomed by the NFU.

An NFU spokesman said: "This is a sensible decision. Many livestock farmers in the bluetongue zones need to be able to sell breeding stock out of the zones, and there are many farmers outside the zones who need to move animals back onto their farms that have been trapped within the restricted areas.

"This will make life just a little easier for some livestock farmers after what has been a desperately difficult autumn. The decision to adjust movement conditions to English abattoirs by removing the time restrictions will also ease the burdens on farmers and processors.

"However, the NFU urge Defra and the core group to continue to explore alternative options that would allow the movement of commercial flocks and herds that are trapped within the restricted zone without compromising disease control.

"The current movement conditions are likely to confine movements to breeding stock given the movement criteria and the cost of testing animals.