The Minister saw at first hand the work of DARD’s Portal Inspectors, their controls and publicity materials at ports, all of which is focused on ensuring foot and mouth disease does not travel from England to the island of Ireland.
The Minister said: “Good biosecurity both on farms and at ports is a critical part of ensuring that the island of Ireland remains foot and mouth disease free.
“DARD officials are present at all NI ports and airports to cover scheduled sailings and flights, to operate the controls in place and ensure that passengers’ footwear and vehicle tyres are disinfected as they enter.
“The appearance of foot and mouth disease in Britain is clearly a great concern for the local farming industry. My Department is focused on ensuring this disease is not introduced here. I immediately closed our ports to imports from GB of live cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, and I have taken the further precautionary step of imposing a temporary ban on imports from GB of fresh meat from these animals and unpasteurised milk.
I wish to re-assure the wider general public that our plans are robust, precautionary and measured. They have been endorsed by my Ministerial colleagues, who stand ready to assist if necessary.
“I am in ongoing contact with my counterparts in London and Dublin to maintain a joined-up approach to the situation and will be keeping our policies under review, including particularly the ban on imports offresh meat and unpasteurised milk. I will be meeting the Assembly’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee and industry representatives to update them on the situation and the action being taken.”
Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development have traced over 100 consignments of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs which have been imported from GB since 1st July 2007, and expect to have completed clinical examinations of these consignments by over the weekend. So far, all examinations have been negative.
The Minister highlighted that at this time, while there is a total ban on the movement of susceptible animals in GB, there are no restrictions on the movement of livestock within Northern Ireland and between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This places an emphasis on the important role that farmers have to play in practicing good biosecurity and remaining vigilant in reporting any signs of the disease.
Any suspicions should be reported immediately as foot and mouth disease can spread extremely rapidly. The advice to farmers is to contact your private vet or local Divisional Veterinary Office urgently, or the DARD Helpline: 028 9052 4999. Do not go near any other livestock until it is confirmed that your livestock do not have foot and mouth disease. Divisional Veterinary Office staff are happy to be called out to farms where they may be able to clear suspect animals as not having foot and mouth disease. This is preferable to having suspicions going unreported for fear of being proved wrong.
To help in maintaining biosecurity, DARD will temporarily restrict its visits to farms to those which are essential for disease control purposes, including scheduled TB and Brucellosis tests, and inspections to confirm eligibility for Single Farm Payment.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Advice to farmers and the general public is being published in the local press and on the DARD website at www,dardni.gov.uk
- Further information is also available from the DARD Helpline tel, 028 9052 4999.
- Media queries to DARD Press Office tel, 02890524619. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440
