Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Monday, 17 December 2007.

Agriculture: Foot and Mouth Disease

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:With reference to the Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-And-Mouth Disease) (No. 2) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2375), the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Export Restrictions) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2489) and the Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No. 3) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2712) concerning restrictions resulting from foot and mouth disease, whether the importation of live animals susceptible to foot and mouth from member states in the European Union was allowed between 25 August and 13 September; and, if so, why the restriction against such imports was reimposed on 13 September.

Answer: These domestic regulations implemented European Community legislation, which also required other member states to ensure that live animals of susceptible species were not dispatched to the restricted area within the UK. This area comprised the whole of Great Britain. On 25 August 2007, these measures were relaxed and the ban on dispatching animals from other member states applied only to the protection zones and the surrounding surveillance zone. On 13 September, following the additional outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the restricted area in the UK was once again extended to the whole of Great Britain. Therefore, between 25 August and 13 September, member states were able to dispatch live animals to any parts of Great Britain outside of the surveillance zone.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 794; 697 c89-90WA
Session: 2007-08
Subjects: Animals EU countries Disease control Foot and mouth disease Imports
Legislation: Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Export Restrictions) Regulations 2007; Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No. 2) Regulations 2007; Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No.3) Regulations 2007
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk