The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced that the national ban on all livestock movement is to be eased from midnight (00:01 August 9th) but there will still be strict restrictions in place following the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey.
The relaxation of the complete ban on animal movements applies to areas outside the protection and surveillance zones in Surrey - so will be in force throughout Cumbria.
Farmers in Cumbria will be allowed to transfer animals directly to slaughter under strict biosecurity controls and dead livestock can be collected from farms. However the national ban remains firmly in place for all other animal movements and will be rigorously enforced.
Abattoirs will have to be specifically approved by the Meat Hygiene Service before they can become operational and arrangements are now being put in place to make this happen as soon as possible.
There will be no multiple pick-ups (ie from more than one farm) allowed - all animals must travel directly to an approved slaughterhouse. Trading standards officers will be monitoring and recording all animal movements, with vehicle checks on the roads also possible. A request is made to all farmers and hauliers to both comply with the new rules and co-operate with any checks made.
Measures will be regularly reviewed in the light of developments in the distribution and control of the current foot and mouth outbreak.
The DEFRA public helpline is currently operating from 6am-10pm. For more information, the public should call: 08459 335577 or access the DEFRA website at: www.defra.gov.uk
Notes for editors
Full details of the Defra licensing arrangement are attached.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 606332
Susceptible Animals Movement Licence (PDF, 23Kb)