UK meat exports banned

The European Commission has banned British meat products in the past

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- A ban on Britain exporting meat, live animals and milk products has been imposed by the European Commission after the country's first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 20 years.

A statement announcing the ban read: "The decision will apply immediately and shall be reviewed at the meeting of the Standing Veterinary Committee scheduled for the 27 February 2001."

The decision was taken 48 hours after the disease was discovered in 27 pigs at an abattoir at Little Warley in Essex county, east of London.

The UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said the disease, which is airborne and highly infectious, had spread to farm near the abattoir.

"This outbreak has potentially catastrophic implications for the whole of the British livestock industry," said Ben Gill, president of the National Farmers' Union.

The Irish Government said before the Europe-wide ban was imposed that it intended to stop imports of animal and dairy products from the UK and Finland's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry advised Finns to refrain from visiting British farms.

Jim Scudamore, the government's chief veterinary officer, said the 28 pigs were infected with the disease which is spread through urine, milk, semen and saliva.

About 300 animals will be slaughtered in an effort to contain the disease and restrictions on the movement of animals in and out of a five-mile (eight kilometre) area are already in place.

Scudamore said: "We'll be slaughtering all the pigs that have the actual disease and then we'll be slaughtering the rest of the animals."

British health and agriculture officials said the illness, which affects pigs, cattle, sheep and goats, rarely endangers people and has no implications for the human food chain.

Sam Harrison, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said: "It is very rare to catch the disease but it is possible -- it wouldn't be through eating meat but through close working contact with the animal."

The Commission had banned pig exports from parts of Britain late last year after the discovery of classical swine fever. The ban was lifted in December after over 70,000 pigs were slaughtered.

Foot-and-mouth disease causes blisters in the mouth and feet of hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, sometimes leading to death.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Europa
Food Standards Agency
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

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