Blue Tongue Update – new restrictions for Warwickshire!
Warwickshire’s Trading Standards is issuing new guidance to all livestock farmers in the county following recent additional cases of Bluetongue within the existing Control Zone.
As of 10th October 2007 at 16.40 hours the Blue Tongue Protection Zone is extended into Warwickshire to include the districts of both Stratford upon Avon and Rugby Councils.
Head of Trading Standards & Healthier Communities, Mark Ryder said:
“For the first time this year, Warwickshire has been affected by a protection zone. This is a further blow for the farming community who have already had so much to deal with. The trading standards service has a responsibility to enforce control measures and would urge all livestock holders to follow the rules on animal movements in order to minimise the impact on the local area. “
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. Both these District Council areas are now in the Blue Tongue Protection Zone.
Movements out of this zone must NOT take place. Movements within Blue Tongue Zone are OK with restrictions. For further information and guidelines please log onto http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth or contact your local Trading Standards Service for further advice.