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Partial lifting of movement ban Animal movement restriction eased
(about 17 hours later)
Restrictions imposed on animal movements in Wales in the wake of the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak in England are to be partially lifted. Farmers in Wales have welcomed the easing of restrictions on livestock movements which were put in place after the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak.
The Welsh Assembly Government has agreed to a request from farmers leaders for animals to be allowed to be taken directly from farms to abattoirs. They can now take their animals to slaughter under strict conditions and say it will ease the "acute economic hardship" being caused by the outbreak.
The changes will be introduced in Wales at midnight. From midnight, the assembly government allowed farmers to take animals directly from farms to abattoirs.
NFU Cymru's Dai Davies said it would ease the "acute economic hardship" the outbreak is causing farmers. But farmers' leaders say the situation is still "pretty desperate".
The assembly government imposed a movement ban on animals in Wales after the new case of foot-and-mouth in Surrey was confirmed on Wednesday by the rural affairs ministry, Defra. The assembly government imposed a movement ban on animals in Wales after the new case of foot-and-mouth in Surrey was confirmed on Wednesday by the rural affairs ministry Defra.
On Thursday Defra said the disease strain found in Egham was similar to that from the Pirbright research site in Surrey, which was blamed for the August cases.On Thursday Defra said the disease strain found in Egham was similar to that from the Pirbright research site in Surrey, which was blamed for the August cases.
Stringent conditions There's a whole host of issues which are being frozen now Brian Walters, Farmers' Union of Wales
Once a new case was confirmed, farmers in Wales were immediately banned from moving their animals, just as the sheep sales season is reaching its height.Once a new case was confirmed, farmers in Wales were immediately banned from moving their animals, just as the sheep sales season is reaching its height.
But Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, announced late on Thursday the easing of the movement ban - in Wales only. But the assembly government agreed to an ease of animal movement in Wales from Friday.
She said: "On the basis of the veterinary advice and risk assessment, I now believe it is a proportionate response to allow movement for slaughter under stringent conditions. However, it is under "stringent conditions" and farmers have warned the already strained industry is now under even further pressure.
"My priority has always been to contain the spread of the disease and keep Wales foot-and-mouth free." Farmer Janet Watkins, from Pantglas, near Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, said: "We're losing all our income now. Until the government sorts something out we're on stop.
The minister added the announcement allowed Welsh meat to continue to be supplied and said she would continue to ask people to support Welsh produce. "We have to be working harder now, we have to be more observant of our stock and yet we can't sell anything, so we're working for nothing."
NFU Cymru's Dai Davies said the situation for farmers was very different this time around to what it was in August and that the minister had realised this in partially lifting the restrictions. "We want to know what is going to happen and how long are we going to be on stop."
'Pretty desperate'
In Wales concerns have been raised that the sheep industry may be hurt more by the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak than in August.
Brian Walters, vice-president of the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) said: "The situation in the sheep industry is pretty desperate.
"This is a crucial time of year when you have sheep sales all over Wales to move the flock perhaps off the hills to the lower ground for wintering then there's store cattle that need to be moved onto fattening units.
"You have dairy farmers at this time of year perhaps [who] want to buy extra dairy cows in order to produce a bit of milk cheaply off autumn grass, so there's a whole host of issues which are being frozen now and not happening because of this situation."
Speaking on Thursday, NFU Cymru's Dai Davies said the situation for farmers was very different this time around to August.
"There was desperation in the voice of the industry that was not there a month a go," he said."There was desperation in the voice of the industry that was not there a month a go," he said.
"I think she (Elin Jones) has realised that the tactics that can be employed this time may be slightly different from those employed last time."
Animal markets are banned again after the new disease outbreak
In Wales concerns have been raised that the sheep industry may be hurt more by the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak than in August,
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales's president, sheep farmer and former AM, Glyn Davies, said there was "despair" in the industry.
Mr Davies, a former Mid and West Wales Conservative AM, told BBC Radio Wales he had a "nervousness" about the economic future of the Welsh countryside.
He said the impact of the currently outbreak would be "probably greater" than the effects of the restrictions imposed after the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey in August.