NI livestock imports 'foot-and-mouth' free

None of the livestock consignments brought into the North since the movement ban from the UK was lifted are infected with foot-and-mouth disease, the North’s Agriculture Minister said tonight.

Michelle Gildernew said officials had checked all 72 shipments delivered after the latest outbreak in Surrey yesterday.

She added the news would be a major boost to exporters keen to ensure that Northern Ireland’s disease-free status continues.

She said: “I am very glad to say that none of them are showing any signs of the disease.

“I would be content that we are clear of foot-and-mouth disease in terms of the animals that have come in.

“None of those consignments have come from the Surrey area.”

The bar on animal imports from the rest of the UK was removed on August 23 but Ms Gildernew revealed that yesterday’s case was a continuation of the same strain which devastated England on August 3.

Special labelling is being placed on local exports distancing them from Britain and allowing shipments to proceed.

The minister has banned live animal imports including cattle, sheep and goats as well as non-pasteurised dairy products from the UK.

Disinfectant mats and warning literature have been placed at airports and ports.

Ms Gildernew added: “Exporters were asked yesterday to come back to us if they were having any problems.

“There’s nothing of any great seriousness that is causing the department any concerns.”

She briefed ministerial colleagues during a lengthy meeting at Stormont, near Belfast, today.

She has also met with her counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, Mary Coughlan, and officials from England Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Assembly’s agriculture committee also held an emergency session to discuss the development today.