Pig export hopes for more counties

19 October 2001



Pig export hopes for more counties

By Philip Clarke, Europe Editor

MORE British counties should be given the all-clear to start exporting pigmeat again, as long as they have no fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth.

Brussels has given the go-ahead for 33 counties which have had no cases this year to resume exports from next Monday (22 October).

Meat and Livestock Commission executives said the next step would be to get restrictions lifted for counties which were disease-free for over 90 days.

That could happen quite quickly, predicted MLC international manager Peter Hardwick, though he was less optimistic about the prospects for sheep.

Mr Hardwick said he had been surprised by the speed with which the measure had been agreed in the face of Dutch opposition.

Counties already given the green light produce about half the countrys pigs.

• British pork exports in hot demand, FWi, 15 October, 2001
• Pigmeat exports to re-start, FWi, 10 October, 2001
• Foot-and-mouth export ban, FWi, 21 February 2001