Irish foot-and-mouth restrictions lifted

Disinfectant measures at ports and airports in the North to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease have ended, it emerged today.

Stormont Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew confirmed the steps ended on Saturday.

The minister also confirmed that, following consultation between her Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food in Dublin, parallel action is being taken in the Republic.

The 10km surveillance zone around the source of the Surrey outbreak in August has also been lifted and export restrictions eased.

Ms Gildernew said: "My Department's latest veterinary assessment is that the additional disinfection controls which we had introduced at our ports and airports are no longer required."

She continued: "The additional certification and veterinary trade requirements for animals and their products would remain in place until such time as the (European) Commission decision is revoked."

There had been concerns about the future of millions of pounds worth of dairy and meat exports worldwide. At one stage supplies to Japan, Germany and Venezuela were threatened.

In a statement to the Assembly, Ms Gildernew noted concerns in the Republic about Brazilian beef.

However, the Sinn Féin minister reiterated Northern Ireland was bound under European law to accept meat imports unless EU officials decided otherwise.

"If we react unilaterally and ban exports of Brazilian beef, it is highly likely that exporters or importers of Brazilian beef would be in a position to commence legal proceedings against the Department (of Agriculture) for any loss suffered as a result," the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP told Assembly members.

"It is also quite possible that the Department would be open to the levy of fines by the EU as a result of interfering with the free movement or trade of a product which has entered the community legally. In addition, acting as such would constitute a failure to adhere to and implement the relevant European legislation.

"However I remain concerned about the findings of the Irish Farmers' Association and the Irish Farmers Journal investigative report and I will be closely monitoring the situation as the commission progresses its investigation.

"I have been watching last week's developments in Brussels closely, particularly the declaration put forward by MEPs calling on the Commission to ban imports of Brazilian beef into the European Union. The matter of Brazilian beef imports is also something that I plan to raise with my ministerial colleagues at our next meeting."

Tributes were also paid in the House by the North's First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to those who helped the North's meat and dairy producers continue their exports while foot-and-mouth bans were imposed on English, Scottish and Welsh goods.

Mr Paisley said the assistance of the British, Irish, US and Japanese Governments was particularly welcome.

Mr McGuinness revealed Paula Dobriansky, President George W Bush's special envoy to the North, the American Ambassadors to the UK and Ireland Bob Tuttle and Tom Foley and US Congressmen Richie Neal and Jim Walsh also paid key roles in helping the North escape export bans.