FARMERS are being urged not to break the Government’s livestock movement ban. The call from the National Beef Association comes following reports that there have been eight reported instances nationally of farmers moving stock illegally, with more suspected. The organisation has told its members that the most important contribution they can make to minimise the impact of the latest FMD outbreak is to strictly uphold the total restriction on all livestock movement until Defra is sure it has identified the location, and scale, of confirmed cases. A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said that there had been no reports of any illegal activity in Northumberland. He added that a number of farmers had been on the phone to Trading Standards to make sure they were clear about the law. NBA director Kim Haywood said: “FMD is spread by contact and if this new outbreak is to be contained, and then extinguished, all livestock farmers in Great Britain must contribute by holding stock where it stands until permission to move is given.” Ms Haywood added: “In the meantime, finishers, and all other livestock farmers, must be patient and wait for the signal that movement to slaughter under licence has been approved, the exact areas for which it has been approved, and details of the licensing system have been made clear.” |