NEWS RELEASE
Date: 14 December 2007
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Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960
Foot and Mouth Disease export restrictions lifted
The European Commission has now adopted a decision that lifts the remaining Foot and Mouth Disease control measures in Great Britain. Resumption of normal EU movements and trading, particularly exports within the European Union can resume from today.
The FMD Restricted Export Area has now been lifted and the associated movement licensing requirements removed.
Great Britain is now divided into two areas:
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the FMD Free Export Area: This includes Districts in Surrey and adjoining London Boroughs. Meat and meat products may be exported but not live animals. However, livestock will be able to move out of this area to the rest of GB provided they are not exported.
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the FMD Live Export Area: This is the remainder of Great Britain. Live exports are now permitted from all of this area.
All Export Health Certification requirements for fresh meat and animal products will be lifted across all of Great Britain and exports will be able to take place under normal Community rules.
Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said:
“The Commission Decision is a welcome development, allowing most movements which were restricted due to the FMD outbreak within the EU to return to normal. Animal Health has worked hard to complete additional surveillance in time to allow this Decision to be agreed.
“Our extensive surveillance demonstrates that the 2007 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak has been effectively controlled. The final stage is to restore our international FMD free status, which would allow third country exports to resume. We are working with third country authorities to achieve this.”
This Decision will expire on 31 December, when the established areas will be lifted and all of GB will be able to export to EU member States under normal rules.
Bluetongue restrictions remain firmly in place and these movement rules must also be complied with when moving livestock.
Notes to editors
- The new Decision was agreed by Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, made up of EU Member States and the European Commission, on 3 December 2007. The Decision came into force on 13 December.
- Further information on the FMD Free Export Area, including which districts and boroughs are included and guidance on the rules that now apply to this areas, can be found on the ‘Movement Guidance and Licences’ page of the Defra website: www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth
- Since 3 August 2007 there have been 8 confirmed cases of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Surrey and Windsor and Maidenhead. The last infected premises in the outbreak was confirmed on the 30th September. There have been no further confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease since this date.
- Further information can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth and www.defra.gov.uk/bluetongue
- Further information is available via the Defra Helpline on 08459 335577 (open 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 5pm on Saturday and Sunday). Farmers can also call the Animal Health 24 hour recorded information line (0844 884 4600) for up-to-date information on the latest developments.
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Page published: 14 December 2007 17:15