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Animal movement ban further ease Animal movement ban further eased
(about 18 hours later)
Restrictions on the movement of animals in Wales are to be relaxed further from midnight on Friday, the Welsh Assembly Government has announced. Restrictions on the movement of animals in Wales have been relaxed further for animal welfare reasons.
A UK-wide ban was put in force a week ago following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth in Surrey. The concessions for Welsh farmers were announced by Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones on Friday and applied from midnight.
On Thursday, the restrictions were relaxed to allow farmers to take livestock to abattoirs for slaughter. A UK-wide ban was put in force a week ago following the discovery of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey.
Farmers' leaders said the change was an "important step" to help the industry cope with the effects of the outbreak.
The first relaxation of restrictions was made on Thursday and allowed farmers to take livestock to abattoirs for slaughter.
The further easing will mean Welsh farmers can move animals for welfare reasons subject to "strict conditions".The further easing will mean Welsh farmers can move animals for welfare reasons subject to "strict conditions".
The concessions for Welsh farmers were announced by the Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones on Friday. They will allow animals to be moved under a general licence, for no more than one kilometre.
I have therefore decided to allow movement on welfare grounds subject to strict control conditions Elin JonesI have therefore decided to allow movement on welfare grounds subject to strict control conditions Elin Jones
They will allow animals to be moved for a number of welfare reasons under a general licence, for no more than one kilometre. These will include newly-weaned animals, pregnant sows and cows, animals for breeding, and animals with feeding difficulties because of a shortage of grazing.
These will include newly weaned animals, pregnant sows and cows, animals for breeding, and animals with feeding difficulties because of a shortage of grazing. National Farmers' Union (NFU) Cymru president Dai Davies said: "They [movement licences] are a crucial step forward and will enable us, as an industry, to deal quickly and efficiently with the welfare problems that have built-up since the disease was discovered.
Ms Jones said: "Informed by the latest veterinary risk assessment, I have concluded that doing nothing in response to the welfare issues of animals otherwise caught by the movement restrictions is not an option. "The changes are rightly linked to biosecurity and awareness and we must all remain extremely vigilant and aware that we have some way to go yet in the battle to overcome this dreadful disease."
He urged every farmer to continue regularly checking their livestock for signs of the disease and maintain secure biosecurity measures.
'Strict control conditions'
Announcing the easing of restrictions on Friday, Ms Jones said: "Informed by the latest veterinary risk assessment, I have concluded that doing nothing in response to the welfare issues of animals otherwise caught by the movement restrictions is not an option.
"I have therefore decided to allow movement on welfare grounds subject to strict control conditions.""I have therefore decided to allow movement on welfare grounds subject to strict control conditions."
The minister said the priority was to ensure that Wales remained free from foot-and-mouth disease.The minister said the priority was to ensure that Wales remained free from foot-and-mouth disease.
'Current status'
"In Wales, we cannot be complacent and for this reason my announcement stipulates the strict conditions under which movement on welfare grounds can proceed."In Wales, we cannot be complacent and for this reason my announcement stipulates the strict conditions under which movement on welfare grounds can proceed.
"All authorisations for movement would need to be reconsidered in the event of any change in the current status of the disease," she said."All authorisations for movement would need to be reconsidered in the event of any change in the current status of the disease," she said.
Ms Jones expressed her gratitude for the co-operation of the farming community and asked that people would continue to "support Welsh produce and buy Welsh."Ms Jones expressed her gratitude for the co-operation of the farming community and asked that people would continue to "support Welsh produce and buy Welsh."