News - FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE
THE WILDLIFE TRUSTS' GUIDELINES
LAST UPDATED 6 AUGUST 2007
1. Background
On Friday 3 August Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) was confirmed from cattle at premises near Guildford in Surrey. A Protection Zone of three kilometres radius and a Surveillance Zone of 10 kilometres has been placed around the premises, and a GB wide national movement ban of all ruminants and pigs has been imposed.
Nationally no animal movements are allowed except under license, controls are in place on movement of animal carcasses, animal gatherings, shearing and dipping are restricted, and all farms must increase levels of biosecurity. In both the Protection and Surveillance Zones, there will be requirements for increased levels of biosecurity on farms, movement controls, controls on transportation of dung/manure and treatment of animal products to ensure destruction of the FMD virus.
2. Guidance on good practice
Because of the risks to the livestock industry, Wildlife Trusts should take steps to observe the following restrictions in addition to the statutory restrictions above. These should be observed for one week or until further information on the outbreak is available:
- Immediately stop all farm visits and not go onto any farm unannounced or uninvited.
- Not attend or organise farm walks or functions near to livestock
- Not encourage access where we have livestock
3. External messages
The attached press statement has been prepared for use with the media*.
Advice from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is that foot and mouth disease is not a direct public health threat and the Food Standards Agency considers that foot and mouth disease has no implications for the human food chain.
4. Further information
The latest information on the current situation with foot and mouth disease is available on the Defra website
* More hardship for our beleaguered livestock farmers
After a slow recovery from the previous outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) the bad news has hit all involved with the countryside - a new case of the disease in Surrey. Livestock farmers are already struggling with depressed markets and increasing costs for food for their animals. The Wildlife Trusts now fear for the future of many vulnerable farms and, in turn, fear for the vital management of the countryside that these farmers and livestock carry out.
Grazing is essential for wildlife friendly management of the countryside, which is why The Wildlife Trusts own so many animals and use them to manage our reserves. We also encourage farmers to bring their livestock onto our 82,000 hectare landholding across the UK, to work in partnership to help wildlife. Anything that jeopardises farmers in turn jeopardises our work.
John Cousins, Head of Agriculture Policy says:
‘We hope that the current outbreak of FMD is a one off and that the countryside can return to normal at the earliest opportunity. We pledge our support for farmers to overcome these problems and keep the livestock industry alive.
Much has been learnt from the previous outbreak and the vital relationship between livestock and the environment must be protected. This is essential if we are to create A Living Landscape where farming, wildlife and access to the countryside can co-exist'.
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Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust