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Disease restrictions to be eased Disease restrictions to be eased
(about 6 hours later)
Restrictions on moving livestock to markets in areas classed as being low risk for foot-and-mouth are to be eased next week, Defra said. Restrictions on moving livestock to markets in areas classed as being low risk for foot-and-mouth are to be eased next week, Defra has said.
Farmers will be able to move their livestock from Thursday, 4 October as long as the situation does not change. Farmers in England and Wales will be able to move their livestock from Thursday, 4 October as long as the situation does not change.
Defra said the relaxation of the current restrictions would be subject to "stringent" biosecurity measures. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the move would be "of great benefit".
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the move would be "of great benefit to the farming and food chain industry". In Scotland, slaughter markets will resume on Monday, but it is not known when livestock markets will resume.
Defra said the relaxation of current restrictions would be subject to "stringent" biosecurity measures.
Farmers have welcomed the decision.Farmers have welcomed the decision.
'Staged approach''Staged approach'
The current control measures in the foot-and-mouth low risk area are to remain in place until next Thursday. The foot-and-mouth low risk area includes all of England, Scotland and Wales, apart from the South East and the Home Counties.
The low risk area covers the rest of the UK outside both Defra's declared foot-and-mouth risk area and areas in which bluetongue restrictions apply. However, there is a separate movement restriction in areas affected by bluetongue in East Anglia and the North East, which will continue to apply.
RESTRICTED AREAS Foot-and-mouth risk areas: Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater LondonFMD low risk area: The rest of England, Wales and ScotlandBluetongue Temporary Areas: Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, BedfordshireAdditional Bluetongue controls: Essex, Norfolk and SuffolkRESTRICTED AREAS Foot-and-mouth risk areas: Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater LondonFMD low risk area: The rest of England, Wales and ScotlandBluetongue Temporary Areas: Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, BedfordshireAdditional Bluetongue controls: Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk
Mr Benn said: "We have always taken a risk-based and staged approach to movement restrictions.Mr Benn said: "We have always taken a risk-based and staged approach to movement restrictions.
"The decision to announce that livestock markets will be allowed from next Thursday follows extensive discussion with stakeholders, and I know will be of great benefit to the farming and food chain industry in easing economic and welfare pressures."The decision to announce that livestock markets will be allowed from next Thursday follows extensive discussion with stakeholders, and I know will be of great benefit to the farming and food chain industry in easing economic and welfare pressures.
"It will also allow time for preparations for markets to take place and for the required biosecurity measures to be applied.""It will also allow time for preparations for markets to take place and for the required biosecurity measures to be applied."
The foot-and-mouth disease temporary control zone in the Maidenhead area of Berkshire has also been lifted following negative laboratory results. There are currently seven foot-and-mouth-infected premises, all within the Egham area in Surrey.
The foot-and-mouth disease temporary control zone in the Maidenhead area of Berkshire has been lifted following negative laboratory results.