NFU cancels council meeting

1 March 2001



NFU cancels council meeting

By FWi staff

THE National Farmers Union has cancelled its council meeting this month, as the foot-and-mouth epidemic worsens.

The NFU decided to call off the meeting to reduce the need of farmers to travel and possibly spread the disease.

Union staff say they cannot remember the last time such a decision was taken to cancel a meeting of the 94-strong governing body.

By Thursday (01 March) afternoon, 31 outbreaks were confirmed, including five new cases reported that day, with another expected to follow shortly.

The meeting of the NFU Council which meets four times a year was due to take place in London on 14 and 15 March.

NFU president Ben Gill said: “Farmers are doing everything they can to protect their property and animals from invasion by this dreadful disease.

“The last thing we want to do is add to the risks posed by people travelling into and out of the countryside.”

New outbreaks were confirmed in Meigh, South Armagh; Lockerbie and Canonbie, Dumfriesshire; and Penrith and Longtown, Cumbria.

It is expected that the Ministry of Agriculture will shortly confirm an outbreak in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

NFU council members have been told that any urgent business may have to be dealt with by post, fax or the Internet while the crisis continues.