More than one hundred abattoirs in England and Wales are
operating again after the
ban on moving livestock following the foot and mouth outbreak was
lifted at midnight on Wednesday.
Only
abattoirs which have been approved and received their licence
to slaughter livestock by the
Meat Hygeine
Service will be allowed to take animals,
DEFRA said.
It also asked livestock farmers to note it was not possible for
Scottish livestock to move to English abattoirs or for livestock
from the UK to move across the border to Scottish abattoirs.
A spokesman from the Meat and Livestock
Commission also warned that under a general licence, a licence
was needed for each livestock movement.
Livestock farmers must also have an agreed contract with an
abattoir before livestock is taken from their farm.
“It is also worth noting that vehicles must be disenfacted
before they leave the farm, and once again before they leave the
abattoir,” the MLC spokesman said.
“Dirty trailors turning up at abattoirs were a problem in the
2001 outbreak and this time vehicles will be turned away if they
look too mucky.”
For information about where to take livestock to
slaughter, visitDEFRA's approved list of
abattoirs
