Farmers 'still not back to normal'

Just a week after the area was declared officially free of the disease, farmers are still facing restrictions on their work.

To transport livestock, farmers must first get a licence from their local trading standards office and when animals are moved on to a farm, there is a 21-day movement stand-still in place.

The stand-still means that once an animal is taken on to a farm, no animals can leave that farm for 21 days. And the farmers face further problems when trying to sell livestock, as auction markets are still closed.

Thomas Binns, vice-chairman of the Lancashire NFU, who runs a farm in Clitheroe, said: "The Lancashire NFU has fought long and hard to speed up the process of getting restrictions lifted. But we are still under movement licensing regimes.

"There is still a bureaucratic process in place. Just because the area is foot and mouth free doesn't mean that everything Is back to normal. There is still a long way to go before things are normal.

"Lancashire will be a controlled area until the foreseeable future, until the rest of the country is recognised as foot and mouth free." And Mr Binns expressed concern that once conditions are back to normal, all the restrictions should be lifted.

He said: "The farming industry is very concerned about the continuation of the 21-day rule. We recognise that it is needed to control foot and mouth but don't want it to stay in place by default, i.e. when the restrictions are removed.

"We appreciate it is necessary for disease control, but once the county is at pre-February levels we don't want to be left with limitations."

During the epidemic the county had more than 50 cases of foot and mouth disease, but the last one was reported on June 28.

A spokesman for DEFRA said: "Until the country is foot and mouth free, certain restrictions will remain in place. Then the final decision will be made by the chief vetinary officer.

"But at the moment the country is not free from foot and mouth. Neighbouring county Cumbria is still at risk, and will be until they have had 90 days without a case. The last thing we want is to take an unnecessary risk."

Moves to delay the setting up of a public investigation into the foot and mouth epidemic have been condemned by a local MEP.

Sir Robert Atkins, MEP for the north west, claimed the investigation, which has cross-party support, was being delayed by Labour MEPs.

"Despite broad support from across the political spectrum and across representatives of most EU member states, some people are determined to use all means at their disposal to make sure this investigation does not get off the ground, he said.

"The foot and mouth crisis this year and its repercussions, are not something people in the EU are willing to brush under the carpet. It is vital for the future of European agriculture that we get to the bottom of this epidemic. We must ensure that in the event of future crises of this kind we have comprehensive strategy for dealing with it."