15 August 2007

3 minute read

Europe

NFU President Peter Kendall said: “The publication of this timetable will enable farmers, processors and indeed the whole industry to plan their marketing in a more consistent way over the coming weeks. It is vitally important we get the markets back to normal and exports resumed as soon as possible.

“If all goes to plan we will see collection centres up and running by the end of next week and livestock markets reinstated in early September.

“The economic impact inflicted by this outbreak will still be significant but these announcements will certainly help to limit the damage. If we are able to lift restrictions, little more than five weeks after the initial outbreak, it will be a remarkable achievement.

“The fact the CVO has been able to make this announcement is a tribute to both the speed and determination with which this outbreak has been tackled, and the very close co-operation between Government and key industry bodies including the NFU. I would like to congratulate the whole industry and Defra on working together to achieve this goal.

The NFU stresses that all of this is subject to there being no further cases in neither the RZ, PZ or SZ - vigilance and biosecurity are still the key priorities.

During the timetable below the NFU will continue to work with Defra and other stakeholders to address other welfare concerns.

• Wed 15 Aug
  Defra announcement on estimated timelines following negative results in the two Temporary Control Zones (TCZS) in Kent and Surrey.
  
  
• Thu 16 Aug
  General Licence for movements on animal welfare grounds within a holding enabling movement across or along a public highway for a distance of no more than 3km.
  
  Specific Movement licence, subject to veterinary inspection, to enable pig movements within a holding on welfare grounds.
  
  
• Thu 23 Aug
  General Licence to allow movements and animal gatherings at approved collection centres.
  
  General Licence to allow movements (without the welfare condition) within a premises for management reasons across or along a publish highway for a distance of no more than 3km.
  
  The Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) will meet in Brussels to discuss the lifting of the export ban on meat and meat-based products.
  
  
• Fri 24 Aug
  PZ to be lifted if no further outbreaks.
  
  
• Sat 25 Aug
  Possible earliest date for lifting the export ban on meat and meat-based products from outside the SZ subject to decisions made at the ScoFCAH meeting on 23 August.
  
  
• Thu 30 Aug
  21 days after cleansing and disinfecting at second infected premises is completed - blood testing to commence on a sample of holdings in SZ.
  
  
• Sun 9 Sep
  This is the earliest date that the surveillance zone could be lifted 30 days after cleansing and disinfecting at second infected premises is completed.
  
  
• Mon 10 Sep
  Earliest possible date where normal movements could resume including the resumption of livestock markets.
  
  
• Early November
  UK regions 'FMD free' status from OIE.