Britain has announced a ban on all its live animal exports after the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 20 years. The EU had followed Ireland’s lead earlier this afternoon by banning all animal produce, including dairy products and live exports.
Officials from the British Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF) were alerted to the outbreak by a vet inspecting an abattoir in Essex where symptoms of foot and mouth were found in 27 pigs.
The infected pigs had arrived at Cheale Meats in Brentwood last week from ,and Farringford Farm in Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight. Five-mile exclusion zones around all three areas have been imposed.
Vets at the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland are meeting to discuss a strategy to prevent the disease crossing the Irish Sea and infecting Northern Irish livestock.
Mr Ian Campbell regional manager of the National Pig Association in Britain, has also warned that the disease affects pet pigs.
The US, The Netherlands and Korea have also imposed bans.