ANIMAL MOVEMENT WILL ENSURE BRITISH MEAT IS KEPT
ON SHELVES
The announcement by the Government that there will
be limited movements of livestock to abattoirs from Tuesday will help to ensure
that shops are stocked with British meat, says the NFU.
But the plan to allow movements to specifically licensed abattoirs will be
strictly controlled, said NFU President Ben Gill.
He said: "Nothing must come in the way of eradicating this disease. That
is our absolute priority."
Under the plan, no movement of animals from farm to farm will be allowed and
all movements to slaughterhouses will be licensed with thorough cleansing and
disinfection of vehicles at the farm and the abattoir.
Mr Gill added: "We have been working with MAFF and the Chief Veterinary
Officer to draw up this plan and the CVO has advised us that this can happen
without compromising efforts to stamp out the disease.
"This will be of some help in alleviating the growing animal welfare
problems resulting from the backlog of animals on farms as well as helping to
lessen the acute financial difficulties of livestock farmers unable to market
their animals.
"The movement will also enable British meat to maintain its place in our
shops, which is especially vital following the outrageous news today that
Germany is still flagrantly breaching BSE rules."
He added: "It is worth stating one more time for the record that there is
no implication for the human food chain of foot and mouth."
The lack of movement within farms and from holding to holding is also leading
to growing welfare problems. Disease control must be the priority but the NFU
has asked the CVO to explore if there is any possibility of allowing limited
licensed movements at a later stage.
But Mr Gill said: "We would again rely on the advice of the CVO that this
would not damage our efforts to contain the disease."
 |
|
|
