Foot-and-mouth restrictions lifted

A surveillance zone remains in place around the farms in Surrey, while a temporary three-mile biosecurity area has been imposed around the two animal health research laboratories at Pirbright which are at the centre of the investigation into the cause of the outbreak.

Chief Vet Debby Reynolds said the biosecurity zone was a precautionary measure to ensure enhanced vigilance among vets and animal keepers.

The relaxation in restrictions followed an earlier decision by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to lift the movement ban on livestock outside the surveillance zone.

As a precaution however, animals will have to remain on the premises they are moved to for 20 days, unless the further movement is within five miles or direct to slaughter. The ban on animal markets and shows will also remain.

The European Union ban on exports of British livestock, meat and dairy produce imposed after the foot-and-mouth outbreak will be lifted from Saturday, but will continue in the six-mile surveillance zone around the farms in Surrey where the outbreak occurred.

The export ban covered cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, as well as products made from them, although those produced before July 15 were acceptable, as were heat-treated products and those made in Britain from imported animals.

Northern Ireland - which was exempt from the ban - has been allowed to export via Britain so long as precautions are taken.

The first outbreak of the disease, in a herd of cattle kept by farmer Roger Pride in fields at Normandy, near Guildford, was discovered just over two weeks ago. A neighbouring herd, owned by John Gunner, tested positive days later.

Both herds were slaughtered, together with the precautionary cull of animals kept nearby by John Emerson. Samples from Mr Emerson's animals later tested negative for the disease.