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Livestock rules set to be eased Foot-and-mouth restrictions eased
(1 day later)
A ban on livestock movement in low-risk foot-and-mouth areas is expected to be lifted by the government. Bans on livestock movement in low-risk foot-and-mouth areas across Britain have now been lifted.
Officials said they would also lift the disease protection zone in Surrey if there were no further cases of the disease before 17 October. Officials have also ended the disease protection zone in Surrey after no further cases of the disease emerged.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the decision was made after "extensive surveillance". The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the decision was made after "extensive surveillance".
Surrey's wider 10km surveillance zone around affected farms is expected to remain in place until 5 November.Surrey's wider 10km surveillance zone around affected farms is expected to remain in place until 5 November.
The foot-and-mouth risk area - covering Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex - will also remain, but its size and current livestock restrictions are subject to "continual review", government vets have said.The foot-and-mouth risk area - covering Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex - will also remain, but its size and current livestock restrictions are subject to "continual review", government vets have said.
A Defra spokesman said while restrictions on the movement of animals had been lifted outside this area in England, conditions still applied to the movement of livestock.
All foot-and-mouth movement restrictions in Scotland and Wales were lifted from midnight.
RestrictionsRestrictions
Farmers within Surrey's current protection zone are banned from moving live animals, unless a special licence is obtained.
There are also increased levels of biosecurity on farms, with disinfectant used on footwear, clothing and vehicles, within the protection and surveillance zones.
On Tuesday, a 3km foot-and-mouth temporary control zone around premises in Rye, East Sussex, was lifted after animals tested negative for the disease.On Tuesday, a 3km foot-and-mouth temporary control zone around premises in Rye, East Sussex, was lifted after animals tested negative for the disease.
If it had been confirmed, the suspected case at Rye would have been the first case of foot-and-mouth outside of Surrey since the emergence of the disease in August.If it had been confirmed, the suspected case at Rye would have been the first case of foot-and-mouth outside of Surrey since the emergence of the disease in August.
Officials have urged farmers to remain vigilant in checking animals after the disease was identified at eight farms since the beginning of August.Officials have urged farmers to remain vigilant in checking animals after the disease was identified at eight farms since the beginning of August.
All foot-and-mouth movement restrictions in Scotland will also be lifted on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, England's farming community is continuing to deal with the effects of bluetongue disease, although restrictions put in place to prevent its spread were eased on Monday.Meanwhile, England's farming community is continuing to deal with the effects of bluetongue disease, although restrictions put in place to prevent its spread were eased on Monday.
Farmers within the bluetongue protection zone - from Lincolnshire to East Sussex - are now able to take their animals to slaughterhouses and markets.Farmers within the bluetongue protection zone - from Lincolnshire to East Sussex - are now able to take their animals to slaughterhouses and markets.
The expected easing of foot-and-mouth restrictions in England comes days after the EU lifted a ban on meat imports from Scotland, Wales and parts of England following the outbreaks. The easing of foot-and-mouth restrictions in England comes days after the EU lifted a ban on meat imports from Scotland, Wales and parts of England following the outbreaks.
All farms outside the foot-and-mouth risk area and outside bluetongue control areas - taking in Suffolk, parts of Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire - are now allowed to export meat to the EU.All farms outside the foot-and-mouth risk area and outside bluetongue control areas - taking in Suffolk, parts of Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire - are now allowed to export meat to the EU.
The National Farmers' Union estimates the farming sector has lost more than £100m since the first foot-and-mouth outbreak in August.The National Farmers' Union estimates the farming sector has lost more than £100m since the first foot-and-mouth outbreak in August.