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Tighter controls to prevent bluetongue spread
18/01/2008
Tighter controls on animal movement were introduced today in a bid to help block the spread of Bluetongue virus to Scotland.
From today, producers buying livestock from Bluetongue Restricted Zones must notify the Scottish Government within three days of the animals' arrival.
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment said:
"The recent finding of a bluetongue positive imported animal in Kirkcudbright in December demonstrates the importance of livestock keepers acting responsibly and taking care in sourcing their stock.
"Scotland was fortunate this time that it remains free of bluetongue. However, producers can reduce the risk of bringing bluetongue to Scotland by not buying animals from high risk areas.
"After this incident, I wrote to the UK Government demanding that strong support was given to an EU wide review of Bluetongue Trade Rules. As a result, the European Commission have charged all Member States to ensure appropriate controls are in place.
"In addition we are working in partnership with stakeholder organisations to consider the most appropriate way to manage the risk from UK moves.
"Should bluetongue get into Scotland it could potentially have a devastating effect on sheep and beef farming and on rural economies as a whole. Both the Scottish Government and stakeholder organisations will continue to work tirelessly to protect Scotland's valuable livestock industry."
Bluetongue is a notifiable insect-borne viral disease that affects all ruminants, such as cattle, goat, deer and, in particular, sheep. It cannot be spread directly between animals and relies on the midge for transmission. The disease does not affect humans and there are no public health or food safety implications.
On 29 December 2007 bluetongue virus was detected in an animal imported from Lower Saxony in Germany to a farm near Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway. The infected animal was slaughtered and the farm remains under movement restrictions while epidemiological investigations are ongoing.
From Thursday, January 17, 2008 it is a requirement that livestock keepers in Scotland who receive animals from a UK bluetongue restricted zone must complete a post movement notification document.
This document should be returned to the Scottish Government's Veterinary Division in Pentland House, Edinburgh by email at: Veterinarydivision@scotland.gsi.gov.uk (or alternatively by fax to 0131 244 6475) within three working days of receipt of livestock. This document is in addition to the identification, herd records and movement notifications in the Sheep & Goat (Identification and Traceability) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the Cattle Identification (Scotland) Regulations 2007.