Brussels vets extend export ban

8 May 2001



Brussels vets extend export ban

By Philip Clarke, Europe editor

VETERINARY experts meeting in Brussels have extended the export ban on meat and livestock products from UK until 19 June.

But auction marts in continental Europe have received the go-ahead to reopen as collection points for pigs and cattle on the way to slaughterhouses.

With no more cases of foot-and-mouth in Europe during the past fortnight, confidence is growing that the disease has been defeated outside Britain.

Farm-to-farm trade can resume through collection centres from Friday (18 May), with no restrictions on the number of holdings sending or receiving stock.

European union vets also agreed to give the Netherlands permission to export of meat and dairy products from non-foot-and-mouth areas.

Live exports of pigs will also be allowed from south of the Rhine, so long as they go direct to slaughter and the recipient member states approve.

Italy and Spain made it clear they would not be taking any Dutch pigs.