UK set to receive new bluetongue status
Date posted: 09 Jun 2010
From June 12th, a reclassified bluetongue status will come into force in the UK, it has been confirmed.
Published by Louise Border.
The UK's bluetongue status is to be reclassified later this month, the government has confirmed.
As of June 12th, the country will be classified as a Lower Risk Zone (LRZ) for BTV8 by the European Commission, with the current BTV8 protection zone status set to change.
Agriculture and food minister Jim Paice has noted that the nation's farmers will still need to be aware of the threat of bluetongue, despite the forthcoming reclassification.
He stated: "They must remain vigilant and anyone importing stock must make sure that they meet the new requirements for importation."
However, the politician also pointed out that the European Commission's announcement has arisen because vets and farmers have put a lot of effort into tackling the disease.
Commenting on the decision, Alistair Mackintosh, livestock board chairman of the National Farmers' Union, suggested that farmers should still undertake vaccination programmes, despite the country's bluetongue reclassification.
Please contact Adam Bradley, Head of Food and Agriculture for further information or call 01223 225275
Click here to email or call on 01223 225186.
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