Foot-and-mouth restrictions lifted in two counties
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Your support makes all the difference.Restrictions around the Essex abattoir where footâ¿“andâ¿“mouth was first discovered have been lifted, it emerged today.
Restrictions around the Essex abattoir where foot–and–mouth was first discovered have been lifted, it emerged today.
Ministry of Agriculture officials said restrictions had been lifted from the area surrounding Cheale Meats in Little Warley, near Brentwood, where the virus was first spotted more than two months ago.
The decision will release 898 farms, including the slaughter house's adjoining premises, from strict movement restrictions.
A second area, in west Wiltshire, has also had restrictions lifted, affecting 971 farms and meaning the whole county has now been declared free of disease.
Maff said a total of 11,136 farms in the UK have now had infected area restrictions lifted.
Farmers will be able to take animals to any slaughterhouse willing to accept them as long as it can be reached in an uninterrupted journey which takes less than four and a half hours.
A vet no longer has to inspect them before movement.
It also means those farmers can apply for licences to move their livestock to more areas, said officials.
They will no longer be restricted to licensed movements in their own infected area, although they will not be allowed to move to any farm in "Provisionally Free Areas".
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