Disease all-clear held up by tests

Devon livestock is still "at risk" from foot-and-mouth

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) claims "sheer incompetence" is behind a further delay in giving foot-and-mouth free status to Devon.

Last week, farmers were told the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) was waiting for one remaining animal blood test result to come through before a decision could be made.

Now it appears there are six outstanding blood tests awaited.

Farmers had hoped the remaining restrictions in Devon would be lifted on Tuesday.

Someone, somewhere has either lost the results or has failed to register the results

Anthony Gibson
NFU

Devon had 173 cases of the disease, the last of which was confirmed in June.

However, some farms were found to have livestock with foot-and-mouth antibodies, which further delayed the declaration of disease-free status.

Last week, Defra told farmers just one antibodies test remained to get the all clear.

But on Tuesday, a spokesman for Defra in London said up to 30 tests were outstanding, while Defra officials in Devon said it was 19, then later six.

Defra's chief of veterinary operations, Ben Bennet, said the ministry has to confirm that the six test results are negative.

He said: "I'm not sure where they got their figures from. I can only work from the figures I have and we've had a submission that went to the chief veterinary officer for his approval.

Animal welfare problems need to be alleviated

"He has looked at the submission and requires these six extra results to come in because they are within the surveillance 10 kilometres.

"If these are negative, then we can hopefully move to the free status that we all want."

Defra now says foot-and-mouth free status will not be declared until "next Monday at the earliest".

The National Farmers' Union has voiced anger over the delay and insists Defra has lost the six test results and Devon needs the status as soon as possible.

Anthony Gibson, the South West regional director of the NFU, said: "Someone, somewhere has either lost the results or has failed to register the results.

"It is sheer incompetence on the part of Defra that they have lost the test results from these six farms.

"They are running around like headless chickens trying to either find these test results or presumably will have to go out and retest these farms that have already been tested weeks ago."

The ministry has carried out more than 1,600 blood tests in total as part of its surveillance programme.

Animal welfare

Overall, the NFU acknowledges that ministry vets have worked extremely efficiently to try and win foot-and-mouth free status for Devon as soon as possible.

But farmers can only move large numbers of cattle and sheep out of Devon to market when the county is declared disease-free.

That is vital to alleviate animal welfare problems, as food and shelter are running short. It will also bring much-needed income.

But until then, strict movement restrictions will remain until the current "At Risk" status is lifted.