Hope as disease tests negative

The French slaughter goes on, with no positive tests yet

More negative tests for foot-and-mouth have been returned from French laboratories, bringing a glimmer of hope that mainland Europe could yet escape the outbreak which has afflicted dozens of UK farms.

But French farm leaders have warned that there is no room for complacency, insisting that the risk continues of infected animals being traced among the 50,000 being slaughtered.

It's preferable to not eat French lamb

Consumers' group leader Marie-Jose Nicoli

And the biggest consumer group in France, UFC, has told shoppers to buy New Zealand lamb rather than British or French, citing a "minimal risk" that people could develop lesions on their mouths.

"If a consumer wants to eat French lamb, there is no guarantee (it originated in France)," UFC President Marie-Jose Nicoli told Reuters news agency.

"As a result, it's preferable to not eat French lamb."

French officials have found imported animals with antibodies to the disease at 10 different sites - indicating exposure in the UK.

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Animals displaying symptoms have been found on at least four farms in France, and more tests are being carried out. Up to 2,000 test results are still in the pipeline.

The main French farmers' union, and the smaller Peasants' Confederation, have called on the government to maintain its strict measures on the movement of animals.

"Although so far tests have shown we are free of foot-and-mouth, the risk of this epidemic appearing remains," said a spokesman for the FNSEA.

Around 50,000 animals are being slaughtered in nearly 80 farms across France, after they were either imported from the UK or feared to have been contaminated.

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The latest French slaughter began early on Wednesday in the Marne region, southeast of Paris, where nearly 800 cows and sheep were being killed and their carcasses burned.

Many countries continue to take their own measures to keep the outbreak at bay.

In Poland, people crossing into the country are driving over disinfected mats, and are being asked to throw away snacks and wash their hands.

"People were a little bit shocked, several protested, but then complied," said Rober Cejko, a customs officer at the Paczkow crossing with the Czech Republic.

Tougher measures

Emergency new measures have come into effect across Europe after being to agreed by EU chief vets on Tuesday, banning livestock markets and any movements of animals except for slaughter.

The veterinary panel also extended a ban on the export of meat, livestock and milk products from the UK, and the tyres of all vehicles arriving from the UK are now being disinfected.

British officials told the vets' two-day meeting that they believe the foot-and-mouth outbreak could soon peak and then start to decline.