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Farm slaughter restrictions eased Farm slaughter restrictions eased
(20 minutes later)
Farmers in England will be allowed to take livestock to slaughter from midnight on Saturday.Farmers in England will be allowed to take livestock to slaughter from midnight on Saturday.
There has been a relaxation of rules following the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey, chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds said.There has been a relaxation of rules following the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey, chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds said.
Farmers in Scotland and Wales have been able to take their animals to slaughter since Thursday.Farmers in Scotland and Wales have been able to take their animals to slaughter since Thursday.
However, livestock can still not be traded or moved for any other reason. Northern Ireland is not affected.However, livestock can still not be traded or moved for any other reason. Northern Ireland is not affected.
'Proportionate response''Proportionate response'
The lifting of the restriction applies only to animals outside the surveillance zone currently imposed around the infected premises in Surrey.The lifting of the restriction applies only to animals outside the surveillance zone currently imposed around the infected premises in Surrey.
A 3km (1.8-mile) protection zone has been set up around the farming land, with a 10km (6.2-mile) surveillance zone encircling it.
From midnight, a general license will be issued that will allow:
  • Direct movements of cattle, sheep and pigs from farms to listed abattoirs
  • Direct movements of cattle and sheep from farms to listed abattoirs via an approved collection centre or a slaughter market
Dr Reynolds said: "We continue to take a risk-based, staged approach to movement controls.Dr Reynolds said: "We continue to take a risk-based, staged approach to movement controls.
"It is essential that all animal keepers, hauliers, abattoirs and those responsible for collection centres follow stringent bio-security measures and all licence conditions.""It is essential that all animal keepers, hauliers, abattoirs and those responsible for collection centres follow stringent bio-security measures and all licence conditions."
Farmers can now move cattle, sheep and pigs to a listed abattoir or from farms by an approved collection centre or slaughter market. Move welcomed
The core group from the farming industry working with Defra, which include livestock, veterinary, and auctioneer associations, said: "The group welcomes this important development.
"We believe that the fact this decision can be made demonstrates the experience gained during the past few weeks and the readiness of Defra to respond to disease risk."
The movement ban was put in place across Britain when another case of foot-and-mouth disease was discovered in cattle on land in Egham on Wednesday.The movement ban was put in place across Britain when another case of foot-and-mouth disease was discovered in cattle on land in Egham on Wednesday.
In what the Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones described as a "proportionate" response, Wales and Scotland later eased the restrictions to allow farmers to take their animals directly to slaughter.In what the Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones described as a "proportionate" response, Wales and Scotland later eased the restrictions to allow farmers to take their animals directly to slaughter.
Same disease strain
Department of Environment sources say a total of 940 cattle and pigs have been culled so far in the latest outbreak.Department of Environment sources say a total of 940 cattle and pigs have been culled so far in the latest outbreak.
Laboratory results have established the virus found at the latest outbreak in Surrey is the same strain as that connected with the Pirbright laboratory site.
The discovery brought the total number of farms where the disease has been found in 2007 to four.The discovery brought the total number of farms where the disease has been found in 2007 to four.