Disease restrictions to be eased

Restrictions over moving livestock are to be eased

Restrictions on moving livestock to markets in areas classed as being low risk for foot-and-mouth are to be eased next week, Defra has said.

Farmers in England and Wales will be able to move their livestock from Thursday, 4 October as long as the situation does not change.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the move would be "of great benefit".

In Scotland, slaughter markets will resume on Monday, but it is not known when livestock markets will resume.

Defra said the relaxation of current restrictions would be subject to "stringent" biosecurity measures.

Farmers have welcomed the decision.

'Staged approach'

The foot-and-mouth low risk area includes all of England, Scotland and Wales, apart from the South East and the Home Counties.

However, there is a separate movement restriction in areas affected by bluetongue in East Anglia and the North East, which will continue to apply.

RESTRICTED AREAS Foot-and-mouth risk areas: Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater London FMD low risk area: The rest of England, Wales and Scotland Bluetongue Temporary Areas: Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Bedfordshire Additional Bluetongue controls: Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk

Mr Benn said: "We have always taken a risk-based and staged approach to movement restrictions.

"The decision to announce that livestock markets will be allowed from next Thursday follows extensive discussion with stakeholders, and I know will be of great benefit to the farming and food chain industry in easing economic and welfare pressures.

"It will also allow time for preparations for markets to take place and for the required biosecurity measures to be applied."

There are currently seven foot-and-mouth-infected premises, all within the Egham area in Surrey.

The foot-and-mouth disease temporary control zone in the Maidenhead area of Berkshire has been lifted following negative laboratory results.