'Fraud' spreads French outbreak

The Netherlands is considering vaccination

The French authorities say that fraudulent practices are probably behind the country's second case of foot-and-mouth disease.

Inspectors detected an infected calf on Friday at a farm about 50km east of Paris, after learning it had received animals from the farm in the Mayenne region where the disease first surfaced 11 days ago.

I particularly regret that constraints which will seriously penalise an entire industry are probably the result of fraudulent practices

French Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany

It is thought that a dealer who imported British sheep sold on one or more of the animals after France had issued a ban on the movement of all suspect animals.

The European foot-and-mouth crisis deepened further on Saturday when the Dutch authorities have confirmed a fourth case of the disease in the eastern province of Gelderland.

This is the same region where the three other cases were detected.

The latest outbreak has been traced to animals that were transported from Ireland through the French department of Mayenne, where the first case in mainland Europe was discovered.

On Friday, European Union veterinary chiefs authorised the Netherlands to vaccinate animals if it helps slow the rate of contamination.

Ban extension

The EU is scheduled to review a ban on the export of French meat and livestock on 27 March.

The commission had been prepared to lift the ban, but an EU spokeswoman said that with the discovery of a second outbreak it was now "very likely" to be extended.

Roadblocks have been set up throughout Europe

France's Agriculture Minister, Jean Glavany, has imposed strict nationwide prevention measures, saying he regretted that the country's entire farming industry would have to pay a serious price for what he called "fraudulent practices".

Meat, milk and other products that have not undergone heat treatment to de-activate the virus were immediately barred from export after the discovery.

In the UK, where the number of cases now exceeds 500, a government report has predicted the epidemic will reach 4,000 cases by June, and will continue for many months.

Policy U-turn

Overturning a 15-year-old policy, EU vets said the Netherlands could inoculate animals around infected farms awaiting slaughter.

The Dutch slaughter of infected herds is already under way

EU Consumer Affairs Spokeswoman Beate Gminder said the decision to allow vaccination would not set a precedent.

The EU opposes widespread vaccination, saying it would hit export markets in the longer term as the Union would lose its status as a zone "free of disease".

The Dutch authorities say there are no vaccination plans, but they want to be ready to act if they cannot cope with the large numbers of animals destined for slaughter.