Animal movement ban is relaxed

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Farmers in Wales can now send animals for slaughter for the first time since the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

The restrictions were put in place last Friday after Surrey's outbreak. In Scotland, a number of abattoirs are already back in business.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones told a meeting of farming union leaders on Wednesday the ban was to be relaxed.

From first thing on Thursday, farmers were allowed to move livestock for slaughter under "stringent conditions".

Restrictions have also been relaxed in England, where farmers outside Surrey's protection and surveillance zones are being allowed to take animals to slaughter and dispose of dead livestock.

A European Union export ban on British meat and livestock remains in place.

Announcing the decision to ease the ban in Wales, Ms Jones said it had been taken on the basis of veterinary advice and risk assessment.

She said: "I now believe it is a proportionate response to allow movement for slaughter under stringent conditions.

ADVICE FOR FARMERS Defra helpline: <i>0845 9335577</i>Animal health offices - Caernarfon: <i>01286 674144 </i>Carmarthen: <i>01267 245400; 07000 780144 (eve)</i>Cardiff: <i>029 2076 8500 </i>

"My priority has always been to contain the spread of the disease and keep Wales foot-and-mouth free.

"I have consistently said that we would begin to ease restrictions when it was safe to do so and I am pleased to be in that position today."

Ms Jones urged consumers to buy Welsh meat, and expressed her gratitude for the co-operation of the farming community.

But she warned farmers not to be "complacent" and to remain vigilant to ensure the country's disease-free status.

"I am conscious also that the easing I have announced today would need to be reconsidered in the event of any further outbreaks of disease," she added.

National Farmers' Union Cymru president Dai Davies welcomed the announcement, but said the union did have some concerns.

People have been urged to continue visiting the countryside as normal

He said: "We need to see as many slaughter facilities as possible reaching the standard in order to maximise competition in the market place."

The ban on moving cows, sheep and pigs meant farmers were not able to sell any livestock, or take them to abattoirs, and workers at two abattoirs on Anglesey and in Gwynedd were temporarily laid off.

Before Wednesday's meeting the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) had said there would be "hell to pay" if its bid to ease the rules was not successful.

But Ms Jones had said she would be meeting Defra and veterinary experts beforehand, and would not relax the rules unless it was safe.

New guidelines on the disposal of dead animals on farms came into force in Wales first thing on Wednesday allowing for the collection of dead livestock from farms - subject to tight bio security controls.

If carcasses cannot be collected within a specific period, farmers are permitted to bury them on their land.