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Mounting pressure to ease restridions on livestock
Page 13
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Defra wants to allow movement of livestock wherever it is safe to do so to ease pressure on livestock hauliers. David Harris reports.
PRESSURE ON THE Government to relax restrictions on livestock hauliers during the continuing foot-and-mouth crisis appeared to be bearing fruit this week the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says it wants to allow movements wherever it is safe.
A spokeswoman says Defra wants to allow "as many people as possible to move as much as possible everywhere". At the moment livestock hauliers have to apply individually for licences to move livestock, with different rules for different animals indifferent areas. Details are on the Defra website, www.defra.gov.uk. Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, says that although the priority is to eradicate the disease he accepts farmers and livestock hauliers are facing a difficult time.
"The best way to relieve the economic and welfare problems facing the industry is to make progress in allowing movement of animals in areas of Great Britain based on an assessment of risk," he says.
Among those pressing for a relaxation of the restrictions is the devolved Scottish government, which argues that problems are particularly acute in Scotland.
First Minister Alex Salm ond warns sheep could be "dying from starvation on the hills unless something is done now".
Sa'mond adds that people are also being badly affected: "There is mounting evidence that many farmers are reaching a high state of anxiety about the future and! am very concerned about resulting mental health problems and potential human tragedies involving those who see no future ahead of them."