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Scots livestock move ban relaxed Scots abattoirs open for business
(1 day later)
Restrictions on the movement of animals imposed in the wake of the foot-and-mouth outbreak are to be relaxed in Scotland. A number of abattoirs in Scotland are back in business after restrictions imposed in the wake of the foot-and-mouth outbreak were relaxed.
The move will allow animals to be transported from farms to slaughterhouses in Scotland under strictly controlled conditions. By midday, about 20 slaughterhouses had been given the go-ahead to receive animals that had been transported to them directly from farms.
Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said it would allow the meat industry "to get up and running again". A strict ban on the movement of animals was imposed after the disease was found at a farm in Surrey last Friday.
The UK-wide ban on all other animal movements remains in force. Movement in Scotland is now allowed under strictly controlled conditions.
The ban has been in place since the confirmation of a foot-and-mouth outbreak at a farm in Surrey on Friday. Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said he was delighted some abattoirs were open for business again.
On Tuesday, a second case of foot-and-mouth was confirmed at another Surrey farm, near the site of the first outbreak. The industry has been very constructive and responsible in its approach over the last week Charles MilneScotland's chief veterinary officer
It is essential that we remain vigilant and maintain all other protective measures already in place Charles MilneChief Veterinary Officer He said: "As soon as the ban on livestock movements was imposed last Friday, the Scottish government began to plan an exit strategy informed by veterinary risk analysis.
Mr Lochhead said: "We are taking this very limited step, based on the veterinary assessment of risk, that will give the green light for at least part of Scotland's meat industry to get up and running again. "I am delighted that, within a few days, a vital part of our meat industry is now back to work to ensure that meat supplies can continue to make their way to supermarket shelves and local butchers.
"All other restrictions in the movement ban still apply and will be enforced." "Of course, animals can only leave farms direct to abattoirs and only under strict licensing conditions, with the wider livestock movement ban remaining in place."
Scotland's Chief Veterinary Officer Charles Milne said: "I am in touch with my counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on a daily basis. 'Great relief'
"On the basis of a veterinary risk assessment, I am confident that we can proceed with this limited relaxation in Scotland on a strictly controlled basis. Scotland's chief veterinary officer Charles Milne explained that the decision to ease the restrictions had been taken on the basis of a veterinary risk assessment.
"It is essential that we remain vigilant and maintain all other protective measures already in place." He said: "The industry has been very constructive and responsible in its approach over the last week.
Speaking on a farm in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Robin Traquair of the National Farmers Union in Scotland, said his members would proceed with caution. "This co-operation will help us to lift further restrictions when the time is right."
He said: "We certainly aren't taking this lightly. At the McIntosh Donald abattoir in Portlethen, Aberdeenshire, managing director Alan McNaughton told BBC Scotland: "On Friday there was dismay that we had another outbreak of foot-and-mouth.
"This will be a single pick-up from this farm straight to market. There'll be no stops in between, and they'll be delivered to market. "To be up and running again is a great relief. If this continues then the impact on supplies will be limited."
"We've got all the bio-security, we've got disinfectant down.
"We've got all the licences in place, we've been following everybody - the movements -and we'll be informed of what's expected of us. So we're taking all the precautions we can."