Ministry denies post-election cull

5 June 2001



Ministry denies post-election cull

By FWi staff

THE Ministry of Agriculture has denied that it is planning a massive foot-and-mouth slaughter campaign for after the general election.

Widespread rumours say accommodation is block-booked for MAFF staff, and slaughtermen and vehicles are awaiting the go-ahead for a mass cull.

In an unusual step during an election campaign, MAFF issued a statement categorically denying that there was any truth in the rumours.

“There are no plans for large-scale increases in the slaughter regime and no planning of a strategic or practical nature for widespread culling of animals.”

Signs of preparations for a new offensive against the disease were planning measures to address the current situation and possible scenarios, said MAFF.

“Any planning that is being done is specifically to address the current situation and as a contingency for any new outbreaks.”

“It does not indicate any plans for fundamental changes in the culling regime,” said the ministry statement.

MAFF acknowledged that “a great deal of work still needs to be done”, particularly in the Settle and Clitheroe virus hotspots in north-west England.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Farming Today programme, militant farmers leader Richard Haddock said he believed MAFF was telling the truth.

“Weve criticised MAFF from day one for having no contingency plans, but now theyve listened and weve got contingency plans in place.”

Mr Haddock welcomed blood-testing in Devon and called for the programme to be extended “from the tip of Cornwall to the tip of Scotland”.

A MAFF spokeswoman said the government would blood-test thousands more animals for foot-and-mouth in areas previously unaffected by the disease.

The new tests might throw up more cases of foot-and-mouth, which would inevitably see more culling in those areas, the spokeswoman added.

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