Regional export status for NI

Machinery was moved in for digging, but work has been halted

Northern Ireland has been given the go-ahead to resume meat and milk exports to Europe after being given regional status in the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The decision was taken by the European Union's Standing Veterinary Committee in Brussels on Tuesday.

However, the only area which is not allowed to resume exports is the Newry and Mourne district, where the province's single outbreak was found at Meigh, in south Armagh.

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers welcomed the news that the province would be treated differently from the rest of the United Kingdom, in terms of exporting.

Brid Rodgers: Welcomed news

"The decision means that from 3 April, subject to there being no further outbreaks, there will be a lifting of the generalised controls on exports for most of Northern Ireland," she said.

"This represents an enormous marketing opportunity."

She said her department would apply for the restriction to be lifted in Newry and Mourne as soon as 30 days had expired since the Meigh outbreak was confirmed on 1 March.

The chairman of the assembly's agriculture committee, Ian Paisley, said regionalisation was "good news, but it's the news we deserve".

The MP for South Down, Eddie McGrady, said the exclusion of Newry and Mourne was an unfortunate necessity.

And he warned that the restrictions would hit all sectors of the local economy.

The chairperson of the Newry and Mourne Agriculture and Rural Development Committee said the decision had been a blow.

William Burns said many farmers were bitter about being excluded.

Extended cull

Meanwhile, Mrs Rodgers said the lifting of the export ban by the European Commission's Standing Veterinary committee could be under threat if the extended sheep cull in south Armagh was not carried out quickly.

She was speaking after meeting leaders of the two main farming unions.

Ministry officials are meeting representatives of south Armagh farmers who are concerned about plans to bury the animal carcasses.

Mrs Rodgers said she had not ruled out any options on how the carcasses would be disposed.

Earlier, farmers prevented officials from the Department of Agriculture from starting to dig a burial pit for slaughtered animals.

They said plans to bury the sheep would destroy the local environment.

The cull has now been delayed.

The farmers, accompanied by local residents, prevented digging equipment from going into the Slieve Gullion Forest Park on Tuesday morning.

They said it was an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where £1.5m of public money has been spent recently, and should not be damaged in this way.

Paddy Tiernan of Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association, which represents farmers, said they were not prepared to let pits be dug in the "finest tourist attraction" in the area.

"A sensible alternative is to do as they are doing in the south, to bring them (the animals) to a central location and bring them to a rendering plant. That's a simple solution."

The planned cull was part of a joint effort by both governments to try to stamp out foot-and-mouth disease.

The republic's only case was confirmed at a farm just across the border from south Armagh, at Proleek, County Louth.

More than 2,000 animals have already been slaughtered within a one-kilometre radius of the farm at Meigh.

The Department of Agriculture can be contacted on its helpline numbers on 02890 524279 or 02890 524590 between 0830 - 2100 GMT.