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Foot and Mouth Disease

For the most upto date information regarding the Foot and Mouth outbreak, please visit the Defra website.

Updated 19/10/07

Defra has confirmed that restrictions on the movements of animals affected by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), established following the August/September outbreak in Surrey, have now been lifted in most parts of the country. 

Following extensive surveillance work, veterinary risk assessment and no further cases of FMD being discovered, all FMD movement restrictions outside the FMD Risk Area have been lifted. 

The Protection Zone around the Infected Premises in the Surrey area has also been lifted following the completion of surveillance work and will now become part of the wider Surveillance Zone. 

The FMD Surveillance Zone and FMD Risk Area remain in place and movement restrictions continue to apply in these areas. The earliest date the Surveillance Zone can lift is 5 November.

Confirmation was given today, that movements of cattle and sheep direct to slaughter collections and sales and any movements of all susceptible animals between premises under the same occupation in a Restricted Zone, subject to complying with specific conditions can take place from Thursday, 23 August.
 
There has been no adverse change to the level of risk since plans for these changes were set out on 15 August. These changes can now go ahead as part of our on-going risk based and staged approach to easing movement controls.
 
Collection centres and direct to slaughter sales of cattle and sheep will be able to begin operating from Thursday 23 August.
 
A general licence was put in place on 15 August to allow movement of susceptible animals between premises under the same occupation in a Restricted Zone to protect the welfare of those animals. That licence is now extended to allow movements of those animals within the Restricted Zone for any purpose within a 3 kilometre radius.
 
All of these movements are subject to full compliance with licence conditions which include strict adherence to biosecurity requirements.
 
Copies of the  general licences and conditions that must be met can be found on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/movements/index.htm.

Update at 8/8/07

This is an update of some of the information that is coming forward re how to manage livestock during this period of foot & mouth restrictions.  There are still quite a number of issues that are unclear and unresolved. There are many priorities currently being worked on by the NFU including movement licences (for slaughter, health & welfare, management purposes, and collection centres), footpaths, transport of carcasses, on farm inspections, biosecurity, avoidance of illegal movements, the implications of vaccination (especially to meat and dairy products) and zoning.

Licenses

No further licences were introduced yesterday,  but it is hoped that licences for movements to slaughter and fallen stock will be available within the next couple of days. It is likely that these will be specific (i.e. must be individually applied for from your local Trading Standards), although this is not yet confirmed. Again, it is likely that there will be strict conditions attached to these licences which we would urge you to understand, and adhere to. Information will be circulated as soon as there is guidance.

Milk Collection Issues

  • There are no restrictions on milk collection in the restricted zones, and all dairy companies are operating within the requirements of the industry FMD Code of Practice.
  • Companies are fitting air filters universally across their ex-farm milk collection and raw milk haulage fleets.
  • Companies confirmed that they were currently disinfecting in and out of farms, and expected to be disinfecting in and out of processing plants as well by last night at the latest.
  • All farm visits/audits have been suspended.

Muck spreading and contractors

It has been difficult to get absolute answers on the spreading of muck and use of contractors, further clarification is being sort. The NFU is  pushing hard on this issue as they realize that many of you are under pressure, especially with slurry after the flooding. In the mean time please consider the following:

Muck Spreading:
  • As an animal product most authorities are unhappy for spreading to take place at this time.
  • Muck should not be transported along roads or to other holdings.
  • When we do get the go ahead to spread think about using old muck first, and about disinfecting tumps.
Contractors:
  • Any machinery going on/off farm should be fully disinfected - ensure your contractors have the necessary kit to do this, or provide it for them.
  • Operations closely related to susceptible animals should not be undertaken by contractors moving from farm to farm i.e. shearing, mobile dipping, muck related operations.

Trading Standards

Please see below for your local Trading Standards office number. They are available for advice, and gearing up for the issuing of licences when they become available.
Shropshire - 01743 254132

DEFRA helpline 0845 933 55 77 - for all enquiries on FMD.

Support

The Farming Help Partnership charities are working together to provide help and support farmers:
  • Farm Crisis Network (http://www.farminghelp.org.uk/ or 07002 326 326) provides pastoral and practical support as well as advice about other schemes.
  • The ARC-Addington Funds.
     (02476 690 587) cash grant scheme is   available for business costs e.g. if stock have had to be housed and are eating winter fodder.
  • Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution has implemented its emergency procedures to ensure that all requests for help from farming families facing financial hardship as a result of the current foot and mouth movement restrictions will be processed without delay. The RABI emergency helpline number - 01865 727888 - is currently manned during office hours (with a message facility out of hours).  All calls are treated in the strictest confidence.   The emergency team will be monitoring the situation and 24-hour manning will be introduced if required.
  • Samaritans-   08457 909 090
The Rural Hub-West Midlands network is here to help you
Contact details for county Hub co-ordinators:
Shropshire Rural Hub - 01939 262106
 
Advice taken from the Rural Hubs Network.
 
Disclaimer: The West Midlands Rural Hubs network accepts no liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from any action taken in reliance on the information contained in this newsletter.