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NI brief on foot-and-mouth alert NI exempt from foot-and-mouth ban
(about 1 hour later)
Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew is briefing her Stormont committee on moves to ensure foot-and-mouth disease does not spread to Northern Ireland. Meat and dairy exports from Northern Ireland will not be affected by the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey, the European Commission has said.
The meeting comes amid efforts to identify the source of the outbreak in Surrey. The EC said it saw no need for further measures after the UK government imposed its own ban on the animal and produce exports.
Ms Gildernew is setting out the local response to the emergency. The executive met on Saturday to discuss what measures should be put in place to ensure the disease does not spread. The government has imposed a ban on the movement of livestock in England, Scotland and Wales. NI is exempt.
Earlier, Mrs Gildernew said she was confident that closing ports to livestock and red meat from Britain meant NI would remain free to ship farm produce. Ulster Farmers' Union president Kenneth Sharkey welcomed the news.
Details of an EU export ban on UK livestock and produce are expected to be confirmed in Brussels later. "We are delighted with that decision. It is what we expected because there is really no justification for introducing a ban in Northern Ireland."
Ms Gildernew said it was "hugely important" that Northern Ireland was not subject to a ban. Briefing
"We have been able to very quickly take measures to protect them (farmers) against further restrictions" she said. Earlier on Monday, Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew briefed a Stormont committee on moves to ensure foot-and-mouth disease does not spread to Northern Ireland.
Measures The meeting came amid efforts to identify the source of the outbreak in Surrey.
Kenneth Sharkey, president of the Ulster Farmers' Union, said he felt reasonably confident that Northern Ireland would be granted special regional status, making it exempt from an export ban. Ms Gildernew set out the local response to the emergency.
"We are on an island, we have the same status as the Republic of Ireland, we have banned imports from Great Britain, so really that should mean we should remain free to continue business as normal," he said.
Northern Ireland has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, but there are currently no restrictions on the movement of livestock within NI and across the border.Northern Ireland has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, but there are currently no restrictions on the movement of livestock within NI and across the border.
Britain has also imposed a voluntary ban on the exports of all animals and animal products. A temporary ban has also been placed on the import of fresh meat and unpasteurised milk from the rest of the UK.
Disinfected mats have also been installed at airports and seaports through which all passengers and vehicles entering the province must travel.