MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK: Foot-and-mouth zones to be lifted today

Since tomorrow live animals and meat products can be exported

The protection zones around two farms at the centre of the foot-and-mouth outbreak will be lifted at noon.

Foot and Mouth Disease was confirmed in cattle near Guildford in Surrey on 3 August (and subsequently on a second nearby site). Control measures were put in place to contain the outbreak, including protection and surveillance zones around the infected premises. Changes are now taking place as part of our ongoing risk based and staged approach to easing controls. From 25 August, live animals and meat products can be exported from outside of the surveillance zone in Surrey to the rest of the European Union with additional veterinary supervision and certification. The Great Britain wide movement ban on live animals will also be lifted, from midnight on 23 August, outside of the surveillance zone in Surrey. However, as a precautionary measure certain restrictions will remain in place. The two protection zones in Surrey will be lifted at noon on 24 August. Chief Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds has decided that as a precaution, a 5km radius Temporary Pirbright Biosecurity Area will be put in place around the Pirbright site. The surveillance zone will remain in place. Debby Reynolds said: "The temporary area is a precautionary measure where we will be working with animal keepers and vets to ensure enhanced vigilance is maintained as we await the conclusions of the HSE investigation and the findings of the independent review led by Professor Brian Spratt.