Don't Hold Your Breath For The EU To Lift Its Ban
BRUSSELS - Yesterday a committee of veterinarians met in Brussels to discuss the EU's ban on the export of fresh British meat and livestock. Hours later they came to the conclusion that the foot and mouth outbreak had not been stabilised. The ban would be maintained and British farmers would have to wait for their answer for at least another two weeks.
9 August 2007
1 minute read
A European spokesman said it would be "premature" to alter the EU measures following a culling last Wednesday, already the third since the outbreak began on the previous Friday. "It was felt that it was best to keep the whole of Britain as a high-risk zone for the time being on the understanding that we can of course review this when we consider it prudent to do so," he added.
The movement of animals in Britain has been restricted and although there have been three outbreaks on three different farms they have all been within just a few kilometers of each other. The problem is that the incubation period of the disease is two weeks, so nobody can quite be sure if the outbreak has been contained until that time-period elapses.
The vets are due to meet again in Brussels on the 23rd of August to re-assess the situation. Until then the nation holds its breath.
