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Farm slaughter restrictions eased Farm slaughter restrictions eased
(about 3 hours 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, as foot-and-mouth crisis rules are relaxed.
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.
'Proportionate response' Meanwhile, pigs on a farm near two sites infected with foot-and-mouth in Surrey are to be culled as a "precautionary measure", said Defra.
The lifting of the restriction applies only to animals outside the surveillance zone currently imposed around the infected premises in Surrey. The environment department took the decision after an inspection of the animals for clinical signs of the disease proved inconclusive, it said.
Move welcomed
The lifting of the slaughter 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.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.
Zones are imposed around places where outbreaks have been confirmed and related sitesEnlarge MapZones are imposed around places where outbreaks have been confirmed and related sitesEnlarge Map
From midnight, a general license will be issued that will allow: From midnight, a general licence 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
  • 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. Chief vet Debby 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 biosecurity measures and all licence conditions."
Move welcomed
The core group from the farming industry working with Defra, which include livestock, veterinary, and auctioneer associations, welcomed the development.
There is no chance of them coming back home to spread disease Kevin Pearce NFU livestock advisorThere is no chance of them coming back home to spread disease Kevin Pearce NFU livestock advisor
"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," it said. Kevin Pearce, chief livestock advisor to the National Farmers' Union, said it was an "encouraging signal".
Kevin Pearce, chief livestock advisor to the National Farmers' Union, said vets and epidemiologists would have considered the risk of spreading foot-and-mouth "very low" before permitting the easing of restrictions. Vets and epidemiologists would have considered the risk of spreading foot-and-mouth "very low" before permitting the easing of restrictions, he said.
He told BBC News "The animals are not going anywhere other than to a slaughter house... there is no chance of them coming back home to spread disease."He told BBC News "The animals are not going anywhere other than to a slaughter house... there is no chance of them coming back home to spread disease."
Mr Pearce said there were hopes that the processing of livestock would be back up and running by early next week.Mr Pearce said there were hopes that the processing of livestock would be back up and running by early next week.
Signs 'vandalised'Signs 'vandalised'
Estimates of the cost of the latest outbreak have been put at almost £10m a day.Estimates of the cost of the latest outbreak have been put at almost £10m a day.
There were also some reports that closure signs on footpaths around farms affected by the outbreak had been torn down, and that people had been side-stepping disinfectant mats.There were also some reports that closure signs on footpaths around farms affected by the outbreak had been torn down, and that people had been side-stepping disinfectant mats.
WHY IS THE VIRUS BACK? The foot-and-mouth virus is less symptomatic in sheep so an infection from the first outbreak could have been overlookedThe virus can survive in soil for up to 28 daysIt can also survive in water for up to 50 daysFoot-and-mouth can also linger in hay and straw for up to 20 weeksIt could be a new strain of the virus, but experts say this is unlikelyWHY IS THE VIRUS BACK? The foot-and-mouth virus is less symptomatic in sheep so an infection from the first outbreak could have been overlookedThe virus can survive in soil for up to 28 daysIt can also survive in water for up to 50 daysFoot-and-mouth can also linger in hay and straw for up to 20 weeksIt could be a new strain of the virus, but experts say this is unlikely
Dedicated patrols of police and Trading Standards officials were monitoring the area, and stopping people in their cars to make sure they did not breach any of the restrictions.Dedicated patrols of police and Trading Standards officials were monitoring the area, and stopping people in their cars to make sure they did not breach any of the restrictions.
Penalties for ignoring the rules include a fine of up to £5,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months.Penalties for ignoring the rules include a fine of up to £5,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months.
The Ramblers' Association (RA) roundly condemned the reports.The Ramblers' Association (RA) roundly condemned the reports.
Kate Ashbrook, chairman of the RA, said: "It is disappointing to hear that people are vandalising signs when co-operation is very much needed to eradicate this terrible disease."Kate Ashbrook, chairman of the RA, said: "It is disappointing to hear that people are vandalising signs when co-operation is very much needed to eradicate this terrible disease."
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 an case of foot-and-mouth disease was discovered in cattle on land in Egham, Surrey, on Wednesday. It was later confirmed on a second farm.
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. This followed an outbreak in the same county, in August. The area had in the meantime been announced foot-and-mouth free.
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 said earlier this week that a total of 940 cattle and pigs had 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. Laboratory results have established the virus found at the latest outbreak is the same strain as the one in August, which has been connected with the Pirbright laboratory site.
The discovery brought the total number of farms where the disease has been found in 2007 to four.