FOOT AND MOUTH OUTBREAK IN SURREY
NOTE OF SCOTTISH STAKEHOLDER MEETING 3.30 ON 4 AUGUST 2007
Chair: Richard Lochhead - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment
- Cabinet Secretary chaired the Disease Strategy Group this morning and later met with Rtn Hon Hilary Benn and other devolved Ministers following to discuss the UK situation.
- Confirmed that the First Minister has spoken with the Prime Minister.
- Cabinet Secretary also gave a press briefing at 1pm with the key message that all shows should go ahead (albeit without livestock) and that the countryside is open as usual, but members of the public should take care to avoid contact with livestock.
- Scottish Ministers have attended all the major shows this week, with Mr Lochhead attending Turriff on Sunday 5th August (with the First Minister).
- Mr Lochhead is keen to see a communications channel opened.
Disease update
Charles Milne (CVO Scotland) gave the group an update of the current situation.
- confirmed that the FMD virus was type O, a common strain throughout the world.
- Gene sequencing may help determine origin of disease.
- Animal Health Agency has 50 vaccination teams able to deliver a vaccination programme in 5 days IF required.
- Disease may have been present on the infected premises for 7-10 days before veterinary investigation.
- The last move off the holding was on the 10th July (2 animals went for slaughter for human consumption). Last movement on was earlier in July.
- There has been 1 dangerous contact with sheep and pigs. These have been slaughtered.
- There have been many other reported cases but all so far have been negated.
- The movement ban has been introduced to prevent the spread.
- Best case scenario for lifting of EU export ban is 3 months.
Ian Anderson (Head of Animal Health and Welfare Division) confirmed that :
- Scottish Government was notified of confirmed disease on Friday and by 9pm had introduced the movement ban.
- Show organisers have been contacted by Scottish Executive and have been issued with biosecurity guidance yesterday evening.
- SE website is being updated frequently with updated information and a farmer's helpline has been set up - 0845 155 3366. Monitoring traffic and this can be ramped up if required.
- A general licence ha been issued to allow milking cows to move.
- Culled carcases are disposed of by incineration.
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Key issues raised by stakeholders:
- All stakeholders agreed the movement ban was an essential biosecurity measure, and all welcomed the emergency measures taken. They understood the movement ban needed to stay in place until the full epidemiological assessment was made.
- Movement licences - concern about how quickly movement licences could be put in place when some of the movement restrictions were lifted. Ian Anderson confirmed that movement licences could be issued quickly once the licensing decisions have been made.
- There is potential for major retailers to switch to long term contracts with foreign suppliers while Scottish meat processors were unable to operate. Ian Anderson agreed to raise this with the Scottish Retail Consortium.
- If there is a delay (even as long as 10 days) for direct movements from farm to abattoir, it could cause the cost of prime cattle to collapse.
- Store lambs moving from the hills was a concern for sheep producers in the remote areas of Scotland. Around 50,000 animals were due to move down to marts during August.
- Industry need to be informed that producers are permitted to clip or dip their own flock so long as sheep are not moved off their premises they are currently on. However, contract dippers or shearers are currently banned from working on farms.
- SE was asked to keep a log of all the questions asked through its helpline and update this, sharing any updates to farming community, Animal Health offices and SE's own website.
- Charles Milne confirmed that whilst epidemiological investigation on spread of disease continues, ban will remain on collection of fallen stock. Collection of fallen stock, 1 pick per wagon, was not viable and therefore this issue needs to be looked at immediately. If SE considers on farm burial SEPA noted that the PEPFAA code must be followed (and made widely available).
Next meeting
Monday 6 August or Tuesday 7 August. Stakeholders will be informed as soon as possible.
Animal Health and Welfare Division
Rural Directorate
Scottish Executive
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