Foot and mouth disease outbreak: 14 September 2007

Yesterday (Thursday) 189 of the 291 red meat slaughterhouses and game handling establishments in Great Britain were operating by processing animals already received in to the lairage, or animals able to move directly to slaughter under licence in Scotland. A further nine were not operating, due to lack of livestock, and 81 establishments do not operate on Thursdays.

The movement ban has been lifted in Scotland, with a general movement licence for direct to slaughter from 00:01, 13 September 2007, and as of 00:01, 14 September a general direct to slaughter movement licence was issued in Wales.

Currently there is no licence for movement to slaughter in England.

The frequency of cleansing and disinfection checks will based on a targeted and risk-based approach.

In England and Wales animal by-products for disposal only can now move off-site without a licence. Disposal means rendering or incineration. If the material is rendered it must be land filled or incinerated. In all cases following incineration the ashes must be land filled.

Movement of animal by-products (such as hides) for other purposes is subject to a general movement licence.
In England this licence is available on the Defra website.
In Scotland this licence is available on the SEERAD website.

Following a further outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) on 12 September 2007, exports of FMD susceptible species (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, deer, llamas and other biungulate animals) and their products from Great Britain have been banned by the European Union.

All Meat Hygiene Service staff in England, Scotland and Wales are authorised to work under the Foot and Mouth Disease Order 2006.