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Foot-and-mouth licence talks held Foot-and-mouth licence talks held
(about 3 hours later)
Farming chiefs are preparing for a "crucial" meeting with Welsh Assembly Government officials in the wake of Surrey's foot-and-mouth outbreak. Farming union leaders are to meet assembly government officials to press for foot-and-mouth animal movement restrictions to be lifted quickly.
The Farmer's Union of Wales (FUW) said it hoped to find out when animals could be moved for slaughter under licence. Abattoirs in Scotland have been told that they can resume slaughter.
Farmers in Wales are hoping that they might be able to move their livestock to abattoirs on Thursday. The Farmer's Union of Wales (FUW) said there would be "hell to pay" if its bid to ease the rules were not successful.
New guidelines on the disposal of dead animals on farms were brought into force in Wales at midnight on Tuesday. But Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said they were not in a competition and she must be satisfied it was safe before she relaxed the rules in Wales.
The rules were introduced as a result of the two foot-and-mouth cases on farms in Surrey. Ms Jones said she would be meeting Defra and veterinary experts before the meeting with unions on Wednesday.
They allow for the collection of dead livestock from farms - subject to tight bio security controls. But she stressed she would not be rushed in to changing restrictions put in place nationwide after the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth was confirmed in Surrey last week.
Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, said: "It is essential that we allow for the prompt, safe and secure disposal of animals that have died on farm.
ADVICE FOR FARMERS Defra Helpline: 0845 9335577Animal Health Offices - Caernarfon: 01286 674144 Carmarthen: 01267 245400; 07000 780144 (eve)Cardiff: 029 20 768500 Welsh assembly websiteADVICE FOR FARMERS Defra Helpline: 0845 9335577Animal Health Offices - Caernarfon: 01286 674144 Carmarthen: 01267 245400; 07000 780144 (eve)Cardiff: 029 20 768500 Welsh assembly website
"Because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak and subsequent movements restrictions we have had to put in place new guidelines. "Once I am persuaded that it is safe to do so I will certainly be allowing it to happen in Wales," she told BBC Wales' Good Morning Wales programme.
"In devising the new rules bio security has been paramount." "I have a responsibility to retain Wales' disease-free status and I intend to do that and only make changes to the restriction on the movement of livestock when it is safe to do so."
Restrictions on the transportation of animals were imposed last Friday, but have been relaxed in Scotland to allow animals to be transported from farms to slaughterhouses under strictly controlled conditions.Restrictions on the transportation of animals were imposed last Friday, but have been relaxed in Scotland to allow animals to be transported from farms to slaughterhouses under strictly controlled conditions.
In Wales, almost 10 million cows, sheep and pigs are affected by the UK-wide ban on movement of livestock. Gareth Vaughan, President of the Farmers' Union of Wales, said he would be pressing for a similar relaxation.
Wales' Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Christianne Glossop, has said she is focussing on getting animals in moving to slaughter. "We will be making a very strong case for the removal of this ban because we have already temporarily lost a very hard won export market and it is essential there are no delays in returning to normality as far as the food chain is concerned," he said.
President of the National Farmers' Union ( NFU ) Cymru, Dai Davies, said at Wednesday's meeting he would be seeking permission for some livestock to be moved for slaughter under licence, and for animals to be moved from outlying areas of farmland to the farmstead for welfare reasons. We must continue this fight and if we don't have any success today there will be hell to pay Gareth Vaughan, Farmers' Union of Wales
Geographic area Mr Vaughan said there is only seven to 10 days of meat production within the food chain in the UK and it was "vital" that home production was back on the shelves as quickly as possible.
"We cannot afford to lose our very important home market to imports. We must continue this fight and if we don't have any success today there will be hell to pay," he said.
On Monday, the European Commission formalised a ban on British exports of meat, milk products and live animals.On Monday, the European Commission formalised a ban on British exports of meat, milk products and live animals.
People have been urged to continue visiting the countryside as normal
Mr Davies said in the long-term after the restriction on movement of animals within Wales was relaxed, they would ask the EU to lift the ban on the export of Welsh beef and lamb.Mr Davies said in the long-term after the restriction on movement of animals within Wales was relaxed, they would ask the EU to lift the ban on the export of Welsh beef and lamb.
He said Welsh beef and lamb had a Protected Geographic Indication (PGI), which is a status awarded by the EU to foods that are unique to a particular geographic area.He said Welsh beef and lamb had a Protected Geographic Indication (PGI), which is a status awarded by the EU to foods that are unique to a particular geographic area.
Mr Davies said it would: "Reassure people in Europe the animals had come from Wales, a region which is a fair distance from Surrey." Mr Davies said it would "reassure people in Europe the animals had come from Wales, a region which is a fair distance from Surrey".
Farmers - who are being urged to stay vigilant to continue bio security measures - have said they are already suffering as markets have closed, abattoir workers laid off and annual shows cancelled.
The ban on moving cows, sheep and pigs means farmers are not able to sell any livestock or take them to abattoirs and workers at two abattoirs on Anglesey and in Gwynedd have been temporarily laid off.The ban on moving cows, sheep and pigs means farmers are not able to sell any livestock or take them to abattoirs and workers at two abattoirs on Anglesey and in Gwynedd have been temporarily laid off.
On Tuesday, councils in Wales said they were investigating two possible breaches of moving livestock during the ban. And on Tuesday, councils in Wales said they were investigating two possible breaches - in Pembrokeshire and Wrexham- of moving livestock during the ban.
Pembrokeshire Council said a farmer who broke a strict ban on moving livestock could face legal action, and officials in Wrexham said they were investigating an alleged breach of livestock movement restrictions. New guidelines on the disposal of dead animals on farms came into force in Wales at midnight allow for the collection of dead livestock from farms - subject to tight bio security controls.
If carcasses cannot be collected within a specific period, farmers are permitted to bury them on their land.