Foot and Mouth Disease: latest
| This news story was last substantively updated on 22 November 2007. For later news please seeour Foot and Mouth website pages. |
Update: 22 November 13:00
Secretary of State Hilary Benn has made a Written Statement to Parliament this morning regarding an incident this week at the Merial facility on the Pirbirght site, believed to have involved a leaking valve within the vaccine production system.
The incident was contained by the rigorous biosecurity safety mechanisms in place. An inspection team visited the site yesterday morning, and they are assured that live Foot and Mouth virus has not been released into the environment. Defra has suspended Merial's licence to permit the use of FMD and Bluetongue viruses for vaccine production.
Further information: Written Ministerial Statement
Foot and Mouth controls after 19 November
Following extensive surveillance work, veterinary risk assessment and there having been no further cases of FMD discovered, Defra lifted the FMD Restricted Zone on Monday 19 November, and from this date, new FMD Export Areas and an updated movement regime came into force when the new EU Commission Decision on exports of meat from FMD susceptible animals was adopted.
Check the map to find out which FMD Export Area you are in (available via the Foot and Mouth movements guidance page) and which controls now apply.
We are aware that a lot of changes have taken place recently and if you are in any doubt about any of these changes please contact your local Animal Health Office or Trading Standards in your Local Authority.
Farmers must remain vigilant and continue to check their animals for signs of disease.
Further information
Further information about Foot and Mouth Disease, including background on the August/September outbreak and information on movements and licenses, is available on the Foot and Mouth Disease pages on this website.
Page last modified: 23 November 2007 18:30
Page published: 22 November 2007