Defra relax FMD and bluetongue movement restrictions

As of midnight on Sunday 14 October livestock markets within the bluetongue control and protection zones will resume, Defra have announced today.

Deputy chief vet, Fed Landeg also said that from Monday 15 October, subject to approval from the Meat Hygiene Service, slaughterhouses that are outside of the bluetongue area will be able to take animals for slaughter from inside the zones.

“The resumption of markets and movements to a larger number of slaughterhouses should ease the impact felt by farmers within the bluetongue zones,” said Mr Landeg.

Foot-and-mouth controls will also be relaxed next week.

Mr Landeg said that, subject to no change in the disease situation, the foot-and-mouth protection zone will be lifted on Wednesday 17 October, when all movement restrictions in Wales, Scotland and all parts of England outside of the FMD risk area will be lifted.

“We are well aware of the economic impacts of movement restrictions and the removal of the movement ban outside of the FMD risk area should help the farming industry get back to business as normal,” said Mr Landeg.

There was no reduction to the size of the foot-and-mouth risk area but Defra said that the issue is under constant risk assessment.

“We will continue to work with the farming industry to review the size of the movement restrictions in place to look at any measures we can take to relieve the burden on farmers and businesses wherever the risk level permits,” said Mr Landeg adding that the earliest opportunity to lift the FMD surveillance zone would be November 5.

The core group of industry stakeholders have reacted positively. They said:

“We welcome this announcement and are grateful for all the work that has been done to make progress in reaching this important stage.”

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