EU bans British meat, livestock

BRUSSELS: The European Commission on Monday announced a formal EU-wide import ban on British meat and livestock following the outbreak there of foot and mouth disease.

The ban covers fresh meat as well as live cattle, pigs, sheep and goats and milk products, said Philip Tod, spokesman for EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyrpianou.

Tod said that, in agreement with the British authorities, the whole of Britain except Northern Ireland would be considered a "high-risk area" where the ban applies. 

"The main element will be the establishment of a high-risk area where cattle and pigs and sheep and goats cannot be exported to other member states nor can fresh meat or milk products," said Tod, who added that Kyprianou would officially announce the measures at around 5:00 pm.

The move "will essentially confirm measures in place since Friday," he said.

Tod said that the EU's Executive Arm was satisfied that Britain had acted swiftly following the outbreak of the potentially devastating disease south of London.

"We welcome the speed with which the British authorities have confirmed the outbreak," said Tod.

Kyprianou would later be in touch with British Environment Minister Hilary Benn, to be updated on the latest news on the outbreak, said Tod.

The EU's decision to ban British imports will be reviewed at a meeting of the bloc's veterinary experts group on Wednesday said Tod.

The EU action -- which has raised the spectre of a disastrous British foot and mouth epidemic in 2001 which saw up to 10 million animals slaughtered -- was triggered by the discovery of the highly contagious virus in a herd of cattle last Friday.

The British government has already slapped a ban on all movement of cows, sheep and pigs, agreed to an export ban and found out that the strain of virus was similar to one produced at the Pirbright centre.

He added that the EU's veterinary fund would cover half the cost of handling the disease outbreak.