How to move livestock off farms

3 March 2001



How to move livestock off farms

by FWi staff

MORE details have emerged of the governments scheme which partially lifts livestock movement restrictions imposed because of foot-and-mouth disease.

The scheme permits licensed movements of pigs, cattle and sheep from premises outside Infected Areas direct to slaughter, under stringent controls.

Licence conditions providing for similar movement of cattle and sheep through collecting centres will be discussed with interested parties early next week.

The Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) has set up a hotline to help keep farmers informed on the moves to get British meat back into production.

The hotline (01908 844794) is available from 0800-2400hrs on Saturday and Sunday (3-4 March) as plans are formulated to get meat onto shop shelves.

Further information is available at the MLC website.

More details will be published on the Ministry of Agriculture website.

The National Pig Association said the volume of inquiries from farmers wanting to move pigs threatened to slow down the direct-to-slaugher process.

Area health officers ideally need some time to themselves this weekend, to receive, understand and put in place the new order, said the NPA website.

NPA chairman James Black said MAFF should be given some breathing space so it was better equipped to process licence enquiries on Monday (5 March).