Question on Bluetongue and Foot and Mouth Disease

Speech by David Ford on Mon 1st Oct 2007

Mr Ford: Mr Speaker, I trust that you will permit me to congratulate the Minister and her officials, especially her veterinary staff, for their speedy response between 12 and 14 September in dealing with the latest threat of foot-and-mouth disease.

In her statement, the Minister suggested that one way in which she was dealing with bluetongue was through existing foot-and-mouth disease import restrictions. Will she confirm whether, once the threat of foot-and-mouth disease is over, she will continue to impose those import restrictions on all susceptible animals from GB or whether she will have powers to restrict the movement only of those animals that are within the 150 km control zone? If the latter is the case, will she take up the issue in Brussels to ensure that she can defend farming in Northern Ireland from a threat that occurs in any part of GB?

Ms Gildernew: As I have already said, the situation is very fluid: on Wednesday or Friday it could be different from today. Import bans on the movement of animals from affected areas in northern Europe have been in place since 2006. Therefore, a ban on the importation of animals from bluetongue-infected areas has existed. If the risk assessment finds that it is necessary to ban the importation of animals from bluetongue-infected areas, outside of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak - I assume that that is what the Member is referring to - EU requirements state that we can ban imports from the zone's affected areas. Imports are, however, permitted from the rest of the territory. That would be in line with European requests. However, the Executive would need to discuss any suggestion that I should go further and seek clarification from the EU about the position on banning the importation of animals from the rest of Britain. As I have said, I will do all that I can if further action is required. I do not have the legislative backup, but we are working closely with people in Dublin, Britain and Europe to protect our industry from this awful disease for as long as we can.

Related Link:

[Hansard]