13 August 2007

2 minute read

Europe

Restrictions were eased over the weekend for welfare reasons

A UK-wide ban put in place after the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey 10 days ago was relaxed over the weekend.

Ms Jones announced on Friday that, from midnight, animals could be moved no more than one kilometre for welfare reasons and under "strict conditions".

But union leaders still have concerns they wish to raise with the minister.

Dai Davies, National Farmers' Union (NFU) Cymru president, said he wanted two main things from Monday's meeting.

Firstly, he said he would "try and make sure that we have got a programme in place to see red meat markets opening".

"And we also have some concern about the system in place as far as fallen stock is concerned at the moment," he said.

It is a balance really between keeping a tight rein on this disease and trying to get the industry back to some kind of normality to carry on with their businesses

Dai Davies, NFU Cymru president

"The big prize is to get back into Europe and there is an opportunity now perhaps to get a case together to try and push for that market to open."

He said the outbreak had been difficult for the government to deal with.

"It is a balance really between keeping a tight rein on this disease and trying to get the industry back to some kind of normality to carry on with their businesses," he added.