Sunday 12th January 2003
Farmers protest against movement rules | |
|  | | One of the protests took place at Defra's offices at Exeter |
| | Pressure is growing on the Government to lift the movement restrictions which were brought in at the time of the foot-and-mouth outbreaks. Farmers in Devon have staged a protest about the measures, saying they're no longer needed. |
|  | | Farmers from across the region lobbied officials from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on Friday, January 10th, as part of their campaign to end cattle movement restrictions.
The rules were brought in during the foot and mouth outbreak to prevent its spread. But the industry says the rules have become an unnecessary stranglehold.
Letters were handed in at offices across the South West, including Clyst St Mary in Exeter, and Truro, explaining the steps taken by the livestock industry to reduce the risk of disease.
It also detailed the impact of the animal movement regime, which remains in force nearly 16 months after the end of the foot and mouth outbreak.
The protest forms part of wider action at Defra offices across the country.
"The 20-day rule has outlived its necessity," said John Daw of the National Farmers' Union in Devon.
"There are enough other measures in place now and we feel it should go, it is an unnecessary weight on farmers that has to be done away with."
Defra has pledged to listen to farmers' concerns. "It's important to meet farmers to discuss their concerns about the work that we are involved," said Ben Bennett of the State Veterinary Service, which is part of Defra.
"We have an ongoing commitment to them, they are our customers at the end of the day and we work very closely with them either as individuals or in farming organisations."
A review of the restrictions is currently underway, its outcome will determine whether they are kept in place, eased or scrapped altogether.
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