The European Commission has said the ban on Irish exports will remain in place until April 19th.
European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr David Byrne told the European Parliament that the ban on the export live susceptible animals will remain in place. In addition the ban exports of untreated meat and meat products, milk and milk products from Co Louth continues.
He said there would be no change in the current restrictions in the area of Newry and Mourne where Northern Ireland's only case of foot-and-mouth disease was detected almost five weeks ago. The ban on the export of live susceptible animals remains.
Mr Byrne told the Parliament that the outbreak remains largely confined to the UK where almost 99 per cent of cases recorded to date have occurred. But he warned that it would be very foolish to underestimate the potential for the disease to spread.
The Commission has given the go-ahead for "suppressive vaccination" in the Netherlands. This involves the vaccinating animals first to prevent the spread of the disease. Those animals will then be slaughtered so that the Netherland's non-vaccination policy will not be jeopardised.