MAFF accused of virus cover-up

25 May 2001



MAFF accused of virus cover-up

By FWi staff

GOVERNMENT officials are accused of suppressing vital information about foot-and-mouth ahead of the general election, which is now two weeks away.

A spate of new foot-and-mouth outbreaks – in some cases weeks after previous incidents – has heightened fears that the disease is making a comeback.

This week, the Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed new cases in North Yorkshire, Northumberland and Dumfries and Galloway.

But farm leaders in Yorkshire said MAFF had withheld essential information about infected farms and contiguous cases of the disease around Settle.

MAFF earlier confirmed 19 cases of foot-and-mouth around the town – but it was unsure exactly how many farms in the area were being culled.

There are around 300 farms in the area and it was expected that 100,000 animals would have been slaughtered in total by this weekend.

But Steve Dew, National Farmers Union group secretary at Skipton, said he was totally frustrated and dismayed by what he said was a lack of co-operation.

“Farmers are satisfied with the way MAFF staff are dealing the outbreak on their farms but we need to know exactly whats going on,” he said.

“There is a rumour that blood testing will begin soon on farms further afield to see if the disease has spread but so far MAFF will not confirm it.”

Farmers have also criticised the transportation of slaughtered animals out of the county for disposal in Cumbria, Cheshire and Northumberland.

Local producers believe on-site disposal would stop the disease spreading. Many feel the government wants to avoid images of pyres so near the election.

The North Yorkshire Trading Standards Authority confirmed that 10,000 movement licenses were granted in recent weeks.

But a MAFF official involved in the Settle outbreak said requests to burn infected animals had been effectively turned down.

“We have been told that we can dispose of a limited number per farm – but thats just not practical,” he said.

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