GREAT BRITAIN is to change from a Bluetongue Lower Risk Area to a Bluetongue Free Area on Tuesday, July 5. However, Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA has confirmed her intention to maintain the Fortress Ireland strategy to protect both the local agriculture industry and wider economy.
“This is encouraging news and I am conscious that this will ease some of the burden on local industry,” she explained.
“I would like to thank the industry for their partnership and co-operation in maintaining our Bluetongue freedom. Indeed the Fortress Ireland strategy was successful in keeping the island of Ireland free from Bluetongue during the outbreaks in Britain and mainland Europe.”
Emphasising the need to remain vigilant, the minister continued: “However there remains a risk of introducing Bluetongue here by importing susceptible animals from areas in continental Europe that are still subject to Bluetongue controls.
Therefore my message to farmers is to think carefully before importing from any Bluetongue restricted zone. An outbreak of Bluetongue, or for that matter any epizootic disease, would have a significant impact on the local economy. I would therefore ask all livestock keepers to continue to source livestock responsibly and remain vigilant for signs of disease.”
A representative of the Ulster Farmers’ Union told Farming Life that local farmers and meat processors had worked very hard to keep the island of Ireland a Bluetongue Free area.
“But there is no room for complacency,” he added “I would strongly urge local livestock farmers to follow the veterinary advice they receive in relation to all future imports of livestock.
“Union representatives have seen at first hand the hardship and loss endured by livestock producers in Europe, who have had to deal directly with the scourge of Bluetongue. It is in everyone’s interest to have the disease eradicated throughout Europe within the foreseeable future.”
Meanwhile the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed the announcement that Great Britain is to be declared bluetongue free.
However, the current EU Bluetongue Directive only allows bluetongue vaccination within a protection zone. From 5th July vaccination will no longer be permitted in GB. The BVA is supporting Defra to lobby for these rules to be changed to allow vaccination in bluetongue areas.
Commenting, Harvey Locke, BVA president, said: “The move to bluetongue freedom is thanks to the excellent partnership between government, farmers and vets across Great Britain. It is a tremendous achievement to turn the situation around from the outbreak in 2007 to freedom in 2011.
“We are disappointed that changes to the EU Directive to allow vaccination to continue could not be made before the deadline and we will continue to work with Defra to try to secure this change as soon as possible to allow vets and farmers to make the right choice to protect their herds.
“Those farmers and vets that wish to vaccinate must do so before the 5th July.
“The BVA would reiterate the message to farmers to source stock responsibly to help avoid a future outbreak.”
This article has been taken from the farminglife.com website.
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