Swiss lift ban on Irish meat imports

The Swiss government has eased a ban on meat imports from Ireland.

Ireland was last week adjudged free from foot-and-mouth after 30 days passed since confirmation of the country's sole case of the disease, close to the Northern Ireland border in Co Louth.

Switzerland, which lifted a similar imports prohibition on France at the same time, said the decision had been taken because neither country had reported a foot-and-mouth outbreak for a month.

Ireland can now export beef and lamb to the Swiss with immediate effect.

Junior agriculture minister Noel Davern said progress is being made in efforts to clamp down on illegal animal movements reckoned to be contributing to the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Police and Department of Agriculture activity has been concentrated in Co Tipperary, where a number of groups of farm animals have been found wandering on roads with identifying ear tags, suggesting they were in the area illicitly.

As many as 50 animals suspected of being smuggled into the Republic from Northern Ireland over a period of weeks were seized in the area last weekend in moves titled Operation Oxblood.

More raids were made today and the operation is expected to continue throughout the week.

Mr Davern reported that the investigation had been aided by "dozens of calls" made to a confidential telephone service set up in a bid to get hold of information about smuggling.