Brown bans livestock movement
23 February 2001
Brown bans livestock movement
By FWi staff
AGRICULTURE minister Nick Brown has banned all movement of sheep, cattle, pigs and goats within Great Britain in a bid to control the foot-and mouth outbreak.
He warned that 400 animals and vehicle movements were being investigated, and that the disease could be anywhere in the country.
Great Britain will be declared a “Controlled Area” from 5pm today until Friday, 2 March.
Speaking in London this afternoon, Mr Brown said it appeared likely that a farm on Heddon-on-the-Wall in Tyne and Wear was the source.
“Disease appears to have been present for two to three weeks, and there have been regular personnel and transport links with the Essex abattoir,” he said.
“The State Veterinary Service have already identified some 400 animal and vehicle movements which need to be investigated.
“The Chief Veterinary Officer for Great Britain, Jim Scudamore, has advised me that there is therefore a real risk that foot-and-mouth disease could appear anywhere in the UK.
In the circumstances, Mr Brown said he had decided on a seven-day standstill of livestock movements throughout the country.
“With the relatively short incubation period of foot-and-mouth disease, this should give us a much better handle on what kind of outbreak we are facing, and meanwhile stop the movements which pose the greatest risk of spread,” he said.
“While this will obviously be disruptive, there was general support from the farming and food industries this morning that this is the right approach.”
Controls will be brought into effect at 5pm today and journeys which have already begun at that time may continue to destination, he said.
They are based on the establishment of a “controlled area” under the Foot & Mouth Disease Order which would normally permit local authorities to issue licences for certain types of movement.
But Mr Brown said: “Our presumption is that there should be no movements for this short period.
“I will therefore retain a reserve power to permit the issuing of licences, to cover any exceptional circumstances which come to light over the next few days.
These powers apply to England & Wales. Parallel measures are expected to be brought in Scotland.
Northern Ireland is a separate area for disease control purposes, but may well follow suit, said the minister.
Mr Brown added: “We believe that the food chain can sustain an interruption of up to a week in fresh supplies.
“We will obviously look carefully at any real difficulties next week.
“Poultry and horses are not affected; nor is the supply of milk. Controls will close fairs and markets and prohibit deer- and foxhunting and hare-coursing.
“During that period, officials would work with the industry and local authorities to establish what regime should come in after this week,” said Mr Brown.
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