Foot and Mouth Disease: control measures easing
| This news story was last substantively updated on 4 September 2007. For later news on this story please see Defra's news story index and/or the Foot and Mouth Disease website. |
(This news story is updated regularly with any new information or developments)
Update: 4 September
The timetable for the UK to regain Foot and Mouth Disease free status has been updated.
Update: 31 August
Defra has today received the report from the Health and Safety Executive into the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. We also received Professor Brian Spratt’s report.
Both reports will be carefully considered. We expect to publish them next week alongside a statement of the further actions that government will be taking in the light of the reports.
Update: 30 August
From 00:01 on Monday 3 September, livestock markets for cattle, sheep, and pigs will be allowed to resume in England and Wales, outside of the Surveillance Zone in Surrey. Also from this date, animals susceptible to Foot and Mouth Disease can be taken to shows involving animals, outside of the Surveillance Zone.
Chief Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds said:
“Having considered carefully a veterinary risk assessment of allowing animals to move to livestock markets and agricultural shows, I have concluded that these can restart from Monday as part of our staged risk-based approach to easing movement controls. A number of additional conditions apply while the surveillance zone remains in place and it is critical that these are adhered to strictly by everyone involved. This represents another milestone in the good progress we are making towards regaining our disease free status.”
Foot and Mouth Disease was confirmed in cattle near Guildford in Surrey on 3 August (and subsequently on a second nearby site). Control measures were put in place to contain the outbreak, including protection and surveillance zones around the infected premises. Changes are now taking place as part of our ongoing risk based and staged approach to easing controls.
From 25 August, live animals and meat products can be exported from outside of the surveillance zone in Surrey to the rest of the European Union with additional veterinary supervision and certification.
The Great Britain wide movement ban on live animals will also be lifted, from midnight on 23 August, outside of the surveillance zone in Surrey. However, as a precautionary measure certain restrictions will remain in place. See the Foot and Mouth Disease website for more information.
The two protection zones in Surrey will be lifted at noon on 24 August. Chief Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds has decided that as a precaution, a 5km radius Temporary Pirbright Biosecurity Area will be put in place around the Pirbright site. The surveillance zone will remain in place.
Debby Reynolds said:
”The temporary area is a precautionary measure where we will be working with animal keepers and vets to ensure enhanced vigilance is maintained as we await the conclusions of the HSE investigation and the findings of the independent review led by Professor Brian Spratt.”
Page last updated: 4 September 2007 15:00
Page published: 23 August 2007 16:30