Bluetongue Warning

August 20, 2008

FARMERS URGED TO TAKE CARE WHEN SOURCING NEW STOCK

As the livestock sales season approaches farmers are being reminded to remain vigilant when sourcing new animals.

The English Bluetongue Protection Zone is expanding towards the border to allow for vaccination across England. Scottish farmers are urged to ensure they are fully aware of the status of any animals bought at English and Welsh sales.

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead also called on farmers to make sure they know the rules about moving livestock vaccinated against the disease into Scotland.

Mr Lochhead said:

“The Government and industry have worked closely together to ensure that Scotland remains bluetongue-free for as long as possible.

“We have pulled together to keep bluetongue out of Scotland with the aim of vaccinating during the winter vector-free period if the disease situation requires.

“It is the unanimous view of Scottish stakeholders that this course of action presents the best solution for our industry. It is vital that everyone remains vigilant against signs of the disease and knows the rules about moving stock.”

Only animals vaccinated by a vet and accompanied by a veterinary certificate of vaccination can move to Scotland from a bluetongue Protection Zone. Any movement of an animal that has been within the bluetongue restricted area in the previous 60 days must also be notified to the Scottish Government.

Any breach of regulations is subject to penalities of up to £5,000 and six months in prison.

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

1. Before departing for sales in England and Wales, farmers should check with either the sales organisers or Defra if the premises is in, or about to be in, the Bluetongue Protection Zone. Bluetongue movement restrictions would likely prevent, or significantly delay, any animals bought or unsold from returning home.

2. Farmers should avoid sourcing animals from high risk areas wherever possible. The following advice is being offered to farmers:

Selling

• Before moving any animals, confirm whether or not the market is in the protection zone.
• Animals from Scotland can enter a protection zone freely
• If un-sold, to return from a protection zone and into Scotland they need to be vaccinated by a vet and have full immunity before returning to Scotland. Animals will only be able to leave the protection zone after 35 days from full vaccination with a PCR test (approx. cost £30 per head). Alternatively, the animals cannot be moved until 60 days after the completion of full vaccination. The animals must also meet the movement conditions below.

Buying

• Before buying/moving any animals, confirm whether or not the market is in the protection zone.
• Only buy animals from a protection zone if they have a veterinary certificate confirming vaccination was carried out by a vet (not a veterinary prescription) in time for you to move them to Scotland. Animals can leave the protection zone after 35 days from full vaccination with a PCR test (approx. cost £30 per head). Untested animals cannot be moved for 60 days following completion of full vaccination.
• A Post-Movement Notification Document (PMND) and a copy of the veterinary certificate of vaccination must be sent to the Scottish Government within three days of the animals arriving in Scotland for all animals that have been in an area under bluetongue restrictions in the previous 60 days.

Contact: Elaine Mitchell: 0131 244 2560
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