This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Foot and Mouth Disease
10/12/2001
Most Foot and Mouth controls will be removed by the end
January 2002, subject to there being no further cases of
the disease, it was announced today.
Measures which will be retained from the beginning of
February 2002 are being discussed fully with
representatives of the Scottish livestock industry. These
measures are:
- a 20/21 day movement rule
- bio-security rules at markets and applying to
livestock vehicles
- the identification and tracing rules for livestock
- particularly for sheep
Following a meeting of industry stakeholders, the
Minister for Environment and Rural Development said:
"It is now over six months since the last case of FMD in
Scotland. This is very encouraging and, of course, is
reflected in the European Union's willingness to accept a
resumption of Scottish sheepmeat exports. I am greatly
heartened by the level of lamb exports from Scotland that
have taken place already.
"In Scotland, FMD movement and other controls have been
progressively reduced since the summer, with markets
restarting in late August. We are now at the stage where,
with industry support, I am prepared to sanction the phased
dismantling of most of the remaining controls.
"Controls that have been in place since February have
badly disrupted the industry's normal trading arrangements.
The measures have been necessary and have helped speed the
disease eradication here in Scotland. I commend the
industry for its perseverance throughout and trust it will
continue to co-operate with any general disease control
rules which remain."