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Agricultural stakeholders meeting
05/08/2007
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead met key livestock industry stakeholders yesterday to update them on the current situation and to hear their concerns.
One issue raised by stakeholders was that fallen stock collectors have been prevented from accessing farms to uplift carcasses of dead animals due to the fallen stock because of the nationwide restriction on the movement of susceptible animals. This situation could lead to a significant biosecurity and public health concerns.
Reacting to this concern the Cabinet Secretary agreed, today, to permit the disposal of fallen stock by burial on site while the movement ban remains in place. This takes effect immediately.
Mr Lochhead said:
"The Scottish Government is working extremely closely with the industry and with the UK Government in the best interests of Scotland's farming communities.
"The disposal of fallen stock by burial on site, while restrictions on collection remain in force, demonstrate our priority in dealing with the biosecurity and public health issues in Scotland resulting from the FMD outbreak in southern England."
The First Minister took part by teleconference in today's meeting of COBRA chaired by the Prime Minister.
On farm burial must be carried out in accordance with Article 30 of The Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003, environmental legislation and in strict compliance with Part 10 of the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity (PEPFAA) code.
For further information, contact Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) (0800 80 70 60). The derogation to bury fallen stock is a temporary measure whilst the precautionary movement ban is in force, and it will be kept under constant review.
Prior to this announcement the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 prohibited the routine burial or burning of animal carcasses on farm except for a derogation to allow the continued on-farm disposal of fallen stock in the designated remote area, which covers most of the Highlands and Islands and Argyll.