Foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Asia spark vigilance call

TEN years ago, there were outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in south-east Asia, which some might have thought was a long way away.

But by February 2001, that same strain of infectious disease had spread to other parts of the world including the UK.

At the end of last week, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations urged heightened international surveillance against FMD following three recent outbreaks in Japan and South Korea.

In its warning, the FAO reminded the international community that the disastrous 2001 epidemic was thought to have originated from outbreaks in these same countries.

Following this advice, NFU Scotland has this week sought reassurances from the Scottish Government that measures are in place to minimise the risk of FMD from Asia entering the country.

Imports of livestock and livestock products are already banned from these countries but the union feels that illegal imports may still pose a risk of importing the disease.

It is believed that the UK Border Agency, which is responsible for anti-smuggling controls on products of animal origin, has been told of the current Asian FMD situation.

The Local Port Health Authorities, responsible for veterinary checks on commercial imports at Border Inspection Posts are also aware of the outbreaks.

Union vice-president Nigel Miller recalled the 2001 outbreak as "ripping the heart out of livestock production in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders" and having lasting ramifications for all Scottish agriculture.

He said: "Even the 2007 outbreak, although focused on a small area in England, caused huge disruption throughout our livestock sector.

"Vigilance is needed on several fronts to prevent such outbreaks ever happening again.

"First and foremost, this is a disease that is not present in the UK and our island status offers us opportunities to preserve that situation. Livestock and livestock products from areas currently affected by FMD cannot legally enter the country so it is illegal imports that pose the greatest threat.

Miller said the Scottish Government had pointed out that Scotland currently has no Border Posts approved for the importation of meat products but it works closely with the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other EU member states to ensure that controls on both legal and illegal imports are as tight as they can be.

Miller said: "Whether dealing with the transport of commercial goods or private travel, there would be merit at this time in all agencies involved in enforcement embarking on a targeted publicity campaign focused on people or goods arriving from Asia. This should remind all involved of the rules and penalties associated with the illegal import of livestock and livestock products."

He urged Scottish farmers to play their part in keeping the disease at bay. "The main threat to Scotland would result from feeding livestock illegally imported products," he said.

Livestock keepers must adhere to the EU ban on feeding animal by-products, including kitchen waste, to livestock and to continue to maintain high standards of biosecurity, he said.

While it was relatively easy to contact all known livestock keepers, Miller said there was more difficult to engage with hobby farmers and those who keep a few animals in their backyards. "It is equally important that this group helps to preserve the health of our commercial livestock by resisting the temptation to feed a few scraps to their stock."