European bluetongue boost

Rule changes accepted by the European Parliament's agriculture committee this week might pave the way for the UK to move to bluetongue-free status.

The committee voted to allow vaccination outside restricted zones where bluetongue has been found and where movement restrictions are in place.

While the UK could qualify for disease-free status because it has remained clear of bluetongue in recent years, the government has not gone down this route as it wants to keep the option of vaccination open.

But this could change, following the committee's vote. New rules giving member states the flexibility to make bluetongue vaccination easier for animals outside restriction zones are now expected to be approved by the full European Parliament tomorrow.

The change will then need to be approved by European Union ministers when they meet in May. The earliest it could come into force at EU level is June.

Scottish MEP Alyn Smith said the decision was "an excellent example of evidence-based policymaking with the legislation following the science after calm reflection of the best scientific advice balanced with the commercial needs of the industry".