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The following update contains information provided by DEFRA, LACORS (Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services) and Devon County Council.

Update on Devon situation

Devon is in the FMD Low Risk Area where existing FMD movements continue to apply. Farm to farm movements are permitted under strict conditions and are subject to high levels of biosecurity under a general licence.

There continue to be no identified cases of Foot and Mouth or Bluetongue in Devon. Key messages are vigilance, (checking livestock twice a day) and maintaining excellent biosecurity. The Devon countryside is open and welcomes visitors.

Devon County Council's Trading Standards Service, in partnership with Defra’s local Animal Health Office and the farming community, is helping to lead Devon's front-line to prevent and combat the spread of disease in animals. As part of the County Council's response to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth in Surrey, an online service is available providing a round up of County Council news and information, links to DEFRA for the national picture, and advice line contact details for the farming community.

The online service also looks back to 2001 and the lessons learned in Devon. The official report of the Devon Foot and Mouth Inquiry makes fascinating reading and many of its findings were implemented by the Government in its reform of the national contingency plan.

Devon County Council’s Trading Standards Service Farming Standards Animal Health Operations Centre is operating extended office hours of 8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday, to provide advice and assistance to the farming community. The Centre can be contacted on 08451 551999. The service also continues to monitor activity in the livestock business to ensure that all the disease prevention controls are being maintained.

Update on national situation

Defra has announced that current Foot and Mouth disease restrictions will be amended so that, subject to no further changes to the disease situation, movements to livestock markets in the Low Risk Area will be permitted from Thursday 4 October. This will be subject to stringent biosecurity measures, and the current control measures in the FMD Risk Area remain in place.

Defra has reviewed the licence arrangements for pig movements in the FMD Low Risk Area as a result of feedback from various parties, including local authorities through LACORS. The updated licences, EXD450 and EXD416, are now available on the Defra website.

Bluetongue

Defra has today confirmed that Bluetongue disease is circulating in East Anglia. This follows further epidemiological investigations, including surveillance into the five cases identified so far in Suffolk, which has led to the conclusionthat the virus is circulating between the local animal and midge population.

In line with the UK Bluetongue Control Strategy and European law, a 20km Control Zone is being put in place around the area in East Anglia where cases have been identified to date. Ruminant animals will be able to move within the Bluetongue Control Zone, but not out of it, except to slaughter in the Bluetongue Protection Zone.

A 150km Bluetongue Protection Zone covering parts of the counties from Lincolnshire to Sussex will be put in place. Ruminant animals will be able to move within the Bluetongue Protection Zone but not out of it. These two Bluetongue zones will replace the Bluetongue Temporary Control Area set up on 25 September.

As always in these situations the circumstances are continually changing so you need to be aware that this information can be very quickly superseded.

General information

Information, data and regularly updated Q&A briefing is publicly available on the Defra website.

The Defra Helpline 08459 33 55 77 is operating between 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday.