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Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Answer

Mr. Todd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to ease movement restrictions in restricted areas of South Derbyshire. [158571] Ms Quin: The only area of Derbyshire in which blood sampling has recently been carried out with a view to lifting restrictions is around Dovedale. The sampling is now complete and we await the results of those tests. Other areas are being kept under review and the procedures which lead to the lifting of restrictions will be introduced as soon as it is safe to implement them. In the meantime, and subject to the overriding need to continue to eradicate the disease, the Government are being as flexible as possible to allow the movement of livestock within infected areas. From 23 April, animals from farms in the infected areas, but outside protection zones, have been allowed to move direct to slaughter to an abattoir within the same infected area. The licences for these movements are issued by local authorities. And rules introduced on 3 May allow the movement of healthy animals direct to slaughter from within a protection zone, subject to certain conditions. These animals may leave the protection zone but not the infected area. The licences for these movements are issued by MAFF animal health offices. Information on all these matters is available on the MAFF website http://www.maff.gov.uk/.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

368 c472W;368 c473W; 158571

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Disease control Foot and mouth disease Livestock Transport Derbyshire

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk