Latest guidance for livestock farmers in Warwickshire
Warwickshire’s Trading Standards is issuing new guidance to all livestock farmers in the county in light of recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth and Bluetongue disease in other parts of the UK.
All Warwickshire livestock farmers are being issued with up-to-date briefing notes, UK maps showing the various disease areas and most importantly, strict guidance and declaration forms regarding farm-to-farm movements.
Mark Ryder from Trading Standards said: “Warwickshire is currently in a ‘low risk’ area and we want to ensure that biosecurity is not compromised in any way. With the situation changing day by day, it is important that we make farmers aware of the latest information and their responsibilities.”
The following guidance has been issued:
FMD & BLUETONGUE UPDATE FOR WARWICKSHIRE FARMERS
Disease Summary
Foot & Mouth Disease
In the current Foot & Mouth (FMD) outbreak, there have been seven Infected Premises, all in the Surrey area. A Protection Zone (3km) & Surveillance Zone (10km) remain in place, centred on the Infected Premises. Where any other suspected cases of FMD are found Temporary Control Zones will be established until results are known.
Based on the overall assessment of risk, two FMD ‘Risk Areas’ came into effect from Tuesday 25 September:
‘Risk Area’: consisting of Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater London and Oxfordshire.
‘Low Risk Area’: The rest of England, Wales and Scotland. A map of the areas is available on the DEFRA website.
Bluetongue Disease
A number of cases have been confirmed. As a result, Defra has identified, from Tuesday 25 September, two ‘Bluetongue Temporary Areas’ while surveillance is carried out to determine whether the virus is circulating. These areas encompass:
· Norfolk & Suffolk; and
· Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.
Specific movement controls are in place in these areas and this affects movements into Warwickshire.
If any part of a farm premises is in the adjacent Bluetongue Temporary Area (ie Leicestershire or Northamptonshire) or the adjacent FMD Risk Area (ie Oxfordshire) then the whole farm premises is subject to the more stringent controls for those areas. Please contact Warwickshire Trading Standards or Defra Animal Health for further advice.
Current Movement Controls relevant to Warwickshire
Warwickshire is currently part of the FMD ‘Low Risk Area’ of the national FMD Restricted Zone. Warwickshire is not currently part of any Bluetongue Temporary Area.
1. Farm to farm movements
Under general Licence EXD450(FMD)(E) issued from 25/09/07 farm to farm movements are allowed for susceptible animals within the Low Risk Area, including Warwickshire, to any destination except the Surveillance & Protection Zones (centred on Surrey). Such movements are subject to additional requirements including:
· strict biosecurity
· usual movement documentation must be carried AND in addition a pre-movement declaration & consignment note to be carried during transport
· completing the on farm movement records within 12 hours
· a 20 day ‘standstill’ requirement for all premises including those under the same ownership
· for pigs, pre-movement veterinary inspection AND only within registered pyramid systems
A copy of the full licence conditions and the pre-movement declaration form is available on the DEFRA website.
This Licence does not allow movements from the FMD Risk Area nor the Bluetongue Temporary Areas to any farm in Warwickshire. Movements are allowed (as per conditions of FMD Licence above) from Warwickshire into the Bluetongue Temporary areas.
2. Movement to Slaughter
General Licences have been issued allowing, under strict biosecurity conditions, movement to slaughter from any farm outside the FMD Surveillance Zone (centred on Surrey). This includes:
· Direct movements of cattle, sheep and pigs from farms to listed abattoirs;
· Direct movements of cattle and sheep (but not pigs) from farms to listed abattoirs via an approved collection centre or a slaughter market.
Multiple pick-ups and multiple drop-offs of animals are not permitted under any circumstances
3. Other Licences
Some other licences are available including:
· movement of pigs for welfare purposes, under strict conditions.
· collection of fallen stock – only by licensed operators and subject to conditions
For further details contact Trading Standard or Defra Animal Health –see contact details below.
Full List of All Licences & Conditions
The full list of licences & conditions for animal movements can be found on the Defra website directly or via a link on the Warwickshire County Council website – see details below
Warwickshire Trading Standards Actions:
Trading Standards will be ensuring compliance with the current legislation through advice and enforcement activities. Defra are emphasising a zero tolerance approach to any breaches of the requirements
If people suspect animals are moving illegally in Warwickshire they should report it to Warwickshire Trading Standards Service who have the powers to take enforcement action under the FMD Order and the Animal Health Act 1981.
Further copies of the pre-movement Declaration Form for farm to farm movements (under Licence EXD450(FMD)(E)) can be downloaded from the Defra or Warwickshire County Council web sites or can be faxed to you on request by Warwickshire Trading Standards Service – see below for contact details
Warwickshire Trading Standards Contacts:
Animal Health Licensing Team: 01926 736470, 736471, 736472 or 736475
e-mail: tslicensing@warwickshire.gov.uk
TS Reception: 01926 414040
Website: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/footandmouth.
Defra Animal Health Office Leicester : 0116 278 7451 (ex State Veterinary Service)
Website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/