FMD confirmed on farm near London
04/08/2007
The department for the environment, food and rural affairs confirmed that it had set up a three-kilometre “protection zone” around the farm and a further ten-kilometre “surveillance zone”.
The government immediately imposed a Britain-wide (Northern Ireland is excluded) ban on the movement of all ruminants and pigs. It said: “Nationally no animal movements are allowed except under licence, controls are in place on movement of animal carcasses, animal gatherings, shearing and dipping are restricted, and all farms must increase levels of biosecurity.”
It confirmed that it had informed the European Commission right away and pointed out that it would stop movement of all livestock to other European Union (EU) member states with immediate effect, in keeping with EU legislation.
The Commission said it would take “an emergency decision” on Monday, but Japan announced an instant ban on imports of pork from the UK.
A widespread outbreak of FMD in 2001 devastated the UK farming industry and is estimated to have cost the country’s economy $15 billion. On hearing the news, prime minister, Gordon Brown, cut short his summer holiday to return to London.
