Pig breeders denied export lift

The raising of restrictions has been welcomed

Pig farmers expecting a relaxation in foot-and-mouth restrictions, have been told they cannot resume exports for at least another week.

The European Commission was expected to ease its restriction on the export of pig meat from animals raised in counties which are not near what it still regards as high-risk foot-and-mouth areas.

Lamb and beef farmers need good news

In Wales that would have meant producers in the former Clwyd counties and Gwynedd - but not Anglesey - could begin to resume exporting their products.

But on Monday the EC announced that exports could re-start from certain areas, but it appears the licensing system is not in place.

Farmers had been hoping it is the first step towards the wider re-opening the export market for Welsh lamb and beef.

The ban by an EC committee came into force following the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in February.

It signalled the end of the export market for Welsh livestock farmers.

Crisis in Wales

Total confirmed cases UK-wide 2,013 - with 118 in Wales

Powys - 78 cases

Anglesey - 13 cases

Monmouthshire - 21 cases

Caerphilly - 2

Rhondda Cynon Taff - 1

Neath Port Talbot -1

Newport - 3

A spokesperson for the agriculture department Defra said it was hoped the problems over relaxing the restrictions would be "ironed out" by next week.

The decision to relax the pork export restriction would have initially benefitted approximately a dozen farmers and was being seen as an important step forward psychologically for an industry which has seen so many doors close in the past few months.

The decision will be closely watched by sheep farmers - more than 50% of Welsh lamb used to be produced for export.

With no cases of foot-and-mouth in Wales since August, the 12 farmers had been hoping that more export markets will be re-opened, although the wait is likely to be several months.