Monday 25th November 2002
Movement restrictions are criticised | |
|  | | Exeter Livestock Market |
| | A year on from Devon being declared foot and mouth free, farmers say they are being devastated by the ongoing 20-day rule. But the Government says there are no plans yet to lift the movement restrictions. |
|  | | Farmers in the South West say livestock movement restrictions are crippling the industry - and there is a claim that some are now breaking the rules in order to move their stock on.
Devon Trading Standards has issued 103 notices to farmers alleged to have breached the restrictions.
The rules were brought in to prevent the spread of new foot-and-mouth cases, but auctioneers have blamed them for a downturn in trade.
This week is the first anniversary of Devon being declared foot-and-mouth free. But one of the remnants of the crisis is the so-called 20-day rule - introduced as a preventative measure following the outbreak.
It means that once an animal has been transferred from farm to farm, no further animal movements can be allowed on the holding for 20 days, other than direct to slaughter.
The National Farmers' Union says the rules are too rigid and complicated and it wants them scrapped as a matter of urgency.
Auctioneers at Exeter Livestock Market have also blamed the restrictions for a downturn in trade.
One Exeter auctioneer, Alan Venner, said the rule is nonsense and some farmers are finding ways of getting around the red tape: "Stock is moving around behind the scenes - what's the point in having all that?
"It's better having it out in the open, and let us get back to normal trading," he said.
Beckett rules out relaxation of restrictions:
Secretary of State Margaret Beckett said there were no plans at present to relax the 20-day rule: "The Government has reviewed the 20-day rule, and are awaiting a preliminary risk assessment," she told BBC Radio Devon.
"We have looked at it and we have made some changes. We are conscious of the concerns of the farming community.
"But I must remind everyone that the Royal Society Inquiry and the Iain Anderson Inquiry both said that on no account should we lift the rule until we have had a full risk assessment."
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