NFU Scotland
has condemned anyone importing stock from high risk bluetongue
areas as ‘selfish’, following reports that some cattle from Belgium
will shortly be arriving in the North of England.
The union was responding to rumours that cattle are destined for
farms close to the Scottish border. Any such imports would fly in
the face of the voluntary ban supported by all major producer
groups in GB.
NFU Scotland has asked the Scottish Government to confirm with
its English counterparts whether importation is under way and it
calls on all GB organisations to again urge their members to
support the country’s voluntary ban on imports.
NFU president Jim McLaren said: “Bluetongue still poses the
biggest animal health threat to GB’s cattle and sheep sectors. All
GB farming unions, along with NSA Scotland, NBA Scotland and the
Scottish Beef Cattle Association have united behind a voluntary ban
on imports coming into the country until such times as all strains
of the deadly Bluetongue disease are seen to be under control in
Northern Europe.
“Despite this, it appears that there are some so selfish that
they would continue with importation of stock from high risk areas
with little or no concern for the thoughts, wishes and livelihoods
of their near neighbours or the future of the wider industry.
“The last year has shown us that the testing regime used in
Europe does not work, and that there have now been more than 50
animals imported into England and Wales that left their country of
birth guaranteed free of disease but tested positive for the virus
when they arrived on these shores. The potential threat posed by
these latest imports is no different.
