Shortage of disinfectant
Shortage of disinfectant
A SHORTAGE of MAFF-approved disinfectants has left some farmers unable to carry out a full programme of precautions against foot-and-mouth disease.
Paul Cooper, NFU SWs pig adviser said he had been inundated with calls at the beginning of the week seeking sources of disinfectants. He had been able to use his contacts to get supplies moving, but it had inevitably taken time.
The regions biggest supply co-op Mole Valley Farmers sold six months normal throughput of disinfectant the day Devons first foot-and-mouth suspect case was announced. Chairman Ranald Fowler said: "Our buying office worked very hard persuading a manufacturer to open up on Sunday afternoon. We had two pallets of disinfectant delivered to Cullompton last night (Monday) and staff delivered supplies from there to our other branches which stayed open until 9pm." The South Molton, Devon, branch supplied some 350 farmers and at Tuesday morning still had to find product for another 600. "You can multiply those figures by nine to get the total we need."
But a spokesman for manufacturers Antec International (01787) 377305 said disinfectant was being distributed as fast as it was reaching its depots. Farmers should check availability of supplies by calling (01787) 377305 or by visiting www.antecint.co.uk.
Industrial Hygiene Direct (0113 3895100) said it was selling MAFF-approved citric acid BP at a cost of £25 for a 5l drum of powder. Once diluted, a spokesman who promised next-day delivery claimed that the cost worked out at less than 1p/litre.n