The Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister, Mrs Brid Rodgers, has announced the easing of some restrictions on the movement on farm animals on welfare grounds. The Minister said she would grant licences for limited movement under strictly controlled circumstances to prevent serious animal welfare problems. If granted a licence, farmers would be able to move sheep and cattle from mountain pastures to enable them to lamb and calf at home farm premises.
Within the three-kilometre protection zone in south Armagh, where the North's only foot-and-mouth case has occurred, animal movement will, however, still be restricted to emergency welfare slaughter.